Labourers stuck in Mandi seek help to return home

ibune News Service

Mandi, June 18

As many as 104 migrant workers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are stuck in Mandi district after the lockdown because they have no money to pay the fare of taxi or bus to return to their native places.

Talking to The Tribune, the labourers said due to Covid crisis, they lost their source of income. They had no money to pay for bus service or book a private taxi to leave for their home from Mandi.

Dipak Kumar and Vishal Kumar, among other migrant labourers of UP, said they were working as rag pickers, hawkers and domestic helpers in villages. After the Covid threat loomed in Mandi district, they lost their source of livelihood. People in villages were against the movement of rag pickers and hawkers, and refrained from employing them as domestic help.

They said they wanted the government help to transport them to their native places as soon as possible. The district administration and a few locals provided them ration during the lockdown, which was a big relief for them, but they could not depend entirely on the administration for food, and wanted to return to their home, said Dipak.

Rugved Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, said, “I am aware of the plight of migrant labourers. There are 104 labourers stuck in Mandi district, who have urged the district administration to manage their transportation from Mandi to their native places, free of cost.”

“We have taken up the matter with the state government and arrangements are underway to transport all migrant labourers to their native places through Shramik trains,” said the DC.