Shramik train leaves for Bihar

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 24

The 301st Bihar-bound Shramik train left the Patiala railway station here this evening. The state government, with the help of the Railways, has ferried 3.54 lakh people to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh among others till Saturday. As many as 23 more trains carrying around 1,400 passengers each left for various states from Punjab today.

While several residents of Bihar and other places were able to leave for their home states, some had to return from the railway station dejected. Govind and Shankar, aged 19 and 24, respectively, had to go to the railway station thrice only to be left back in line.

“We came here for the fourth time today. Earlier, the trains got fully occupied before we could even reach the counter for ticket. I came to Punjab nine months ago. Now I am returning with merely Rs 400 in hand,” Govind said.

Muhammad Arif, another resident of Bihar, said: “I have been working here for the past 35 years. Now, we are returning because of no work.”

When he was told that industry and markets had already started functioning, he said: “Owner now only wants 2-3 persons in place of 10 workers. I will till my land back home.”

Sanikya Benegar, a resident of Jharkhand, reached the railway station after getting wrong information. Someone told him to reach the station today to leave for his home state. “I want to go to Ranchi, Jharkhand,” he said. He had to return as only residents of Bihar were allowed to board the trains.