No end to migrants’ misery

THERE seems to be no end to the misery suffered by thousands of migrant labourers crowding railway stations and bus terminals for a safe passage home. The petition filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking food for the 2,500 migrants at the Faridabad station waiting for trains to ferry them to their native places, reflects the general sordid state of affairs. Efforts to address the plight of this starving segment are below par and tall claims of the authorities belie the horrific situation on the ground. For every heartwarming journey home, at times aided by philanthropic citizens, there is a heart-wrenching case of hapless workers reduced to starvation by penury unleashed by the lockdown that rendered them jobless. Between May 9 and 27, as many as 80 persons died on Shramik trains being run for the migrant workers. Perhaps, had the travel-weary passengers been given a meal in time, some lives could have been saved. The journey to home has been fatal for many others too, as they met their end in road or rail accidents.

Millions of poor migrants from all over the country trundled out on the roads with their wives, some even pregnant, and children and meagre belongings packed in bags and headed home in March-end when the lockdown was imposed. For over a month, they were left to fend for themselves. Then as the crisis snowballed, though belatedly, the Supreme Court came to their rescue and directed the states to provide the migrants with food, shelter and transport in a bid to mitigate their misery. Taking up petitions or even suo motu notice of the crisis, more than 10 high courts have sought humanitarian measures for the migrants. Meanwhile, the government announced stimulus packages for the poor and others impacted by the coronavirus-induced crisis.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has now directed Haryana to ensure food and ration supply to the migrants. It is time the states pulled out all stops to streamline the process of ensuring that they reach their villages safely, without hunger pangs, the promised money in their accounts and jobs under MGNREGA. Along with the coronavirus protocols in place.

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