PANJIM: When the unorganised sector, migrants and tourists were helplessly stranded in Goa due to the nationwide lockdown, Youth Hostel at Miramar came to their rescue. Being a government initiative, the institute has catered to nearly 3,000 individuals since the beginning of the lockdown till date.
Ning Xianliang, a 47-year-old electronic program manager from Jiangdong in China had come on a holiday to Goa in February. The man had not booked his return ticket as he had planned a long vacation after resigning from his job. He soon found himself in a tight situation until he found the accommodation providing relief.
Apart from this foreign national, another 10 Nepali migrants are among the 56 persons currently housed in the relief camp at Youth Hostel. Most, 16, are from Madhya Pradesh. Ex-defence personnel and present director of the Youth Hostel, Anant Joshi said that about 80 per cent of those staying there are migrants, while about eight are tourists and three job seekers.
With the nationwide lockdown posing a grim reality to the daily earners and unemployed, those given shelter at Youth Hostel are also being offered financial relief towards voluntary service. In what could be a harsh reality, some migrants were denied shelter by owners at their workplace, but they found relief at youth hostel.
“Some of them (non-Goans) employed at certain establishments were not given food or shelter. They were actually asked by their employers to fend for themselves. There were also some, who were asked to work but not given wages or accommodation. They came to us seeking help,” Joshi said. Similarly, those depending on daily wages had also run out of work and money, which is when the government-backed institute came to their rescue.
Besides food and shelter, Joshi, who has served in the Defence, has ensured they are taught to be ‘gentlemen’. The journey since the lockdown till date has seen a number of changes in the life of the migrants, in particular. Joshi explained that the migrants, who looked helpless in the beginning of the lockdown, are now confident of handling situations.
“When they came first, they were totally different. They wanted food even once a day. Now, they are a completely different being, they know how to behave in public and are disciplined,” he said, adding that they volunteer for work within and outside the complex.
Joshi has ensured that earlier distressed, these migrants are taught yoga and meditation daily. The other stranded passengers are also part of the daily activities. “They have come out of the worry and stress, which was evident in the initial days. They also play games, water the plants, trim the trees, clean the premises. They have also developed a kitchen garden, all on their own. Nobody forces them, they have developed interest in these activities,” he said.
Some of them are also doing voluntary service on alternate days, to which, Joshi pays them as per MNEREGA scheme. “I send them to known places and to people whom I personally know. The reason being their health safety,” he said.
Their enthusiasm could also be seen when Joshi announced Hostel of the Day award, an initiative started before Goa Police’s Cop of the Day. “There are people who have won more than one award. It is based on their day-to-day service. We give them gifts like towel and other essentials. They are happy to receive these awards,” Joshi said.
This week, when over 120 Karnataka migrants being sent back from the border, Youth Hostel provided them food, organised at the last minute. Thanks to the people in the hostel, Joshi’s team handled the situation quickly.
“I received a call that buses are coming back and food needs to be arranged for them. We served food to the people currently with us, and told them that 120-150 people will be gathering here and we need to help them out. I gave them 15 minutes and in 14 minutes, they finished their food,” he recalled adding, “I quickly formed teams out of 20 volunteers. Each of them was briefed on how to address the situation. While one team was deployed to offer water to wash hands of the Karnataka returnees, another group was there to offer water to drink. Another group was ready with big and small plates for adults and children respectively. We served food to children and women first and later the men. It was due to this proper coordination and well-understanding among the people currently with the youth hostel, that things went smooth.”
The kitchen is entirely handled by Joshi, his wife and a woman helper. “We three cook food daily,” he added.
On Saturday morning, the shelter camp had an additional set of guests. An army personnel who retired from Goa in January had arrived in the State before the lockdown to claim the final account. With the enforcement of the lockdown, he along with his wife and two children were stuck in a hotel. Exhausted with the resources they had, the West Bengal natives were routed to Youth Hostel.
