25 May 2020  |   05:46am IST

Are migrants leaving NEVER to RETURN?

As is the scene throughout the country, migrants in Goa too have been helpless for last two months, ever since the first lockdown was called on March 22, 2020. Mostly daily wage earners, the migrants were the worst hit on by the COVID-19 lockdown. With no earning, no food and no money left to pay the room rents, some migrants made footpaths and railway stations their homes in Margao, Mapusa and Thivim. TEAM HERALD looks into the issue of migrants as they hope to get back to their families. Some have decided to say a goodbye to Goa permanently for the “discrimination” they faced in the State.
Are migrants leaving NEVER to RETURN?

While some decided to wait for the administration to arrange their trains to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu Kashmir and so on, there were many from West Bengal, Karnataka and Maharashtra and Karnataka who said enough was enough and decided to take a walk back home.  However, to their dismay they were stopped and sent back from the borders or from the neighbouring States for travelling without permits.

Almost 1.2 lakh migrants had registered with the State government for moving out of State to their native places in Shramik Express. 

Based on the approval from the parent States, the government arranged Shramik Express train as well as Kadamba buses to ferry the workers.

Till date, over 50,000 people have already left for their homes, but more importantly there are over 70,000 more people, who are waiting for their turn to board a train.

As they wait for all the messages from administration somewhere near the railway stations, they have been harassed by the police as well as the local body employees.

Frustrated with such discrimination, the migrant youth last week clashed with police at Rawanfond by pelting stones.

Revenue Secretary Sanjay Kumar said the administration has moved most migrants to the nearby shelter homes at Peddem Stadium or the Indoor Stadium, Navelim.

“If one person gets a message all his friends etc, converge at the railway station, violating social distancing norms,” he said as such the administration is just taking preventive measures.

Speaking to Herald, a few migrants said they had families to feed and the situation does not help their cause.

“We don’t know when the situation will improve and I think it is better to get home. We have no work, no money and the room owners are asking for rent,” said Sanath Harijan, a native of UP working on daily wages.

He had come to Goa with his friends as he was told they get better wages here.

Another worker said he will never return back in Goa due to discrimination by the people.

“Many times despite our hard work we are being discriminated. I was waiting to return long ago, but for livelihood had to stay back. But once I leave now, will never return,” he said.


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar