Delhi, June 5, 2020: Recently, I myself and many more people were very much attracted by the word, “Migrant Labour”. It was used for the Labour working in different parts of India and due to COVID- 19 Pandemic and subsequent lock-down, were moving from their workplace for their Home Town.
Now the pertinent question arises that, whether they are moving willingly or were forced by the circumstances to move to their home state.
The point of view of the central or the different state Governments is that they have made sufficient arrangements for the distribution of free food and arrangement for the stay if required by any person.
The reports in the media also witnessed the things contrary to the claims by the Government which itself cautions against the lack of proper implementation of the policies by the Government agencies.
It was widely circulated that the migrant labour is moving to their home town marching on foot on railway tracks or walking on roads, cycling or using other means in spite of lockdown. It was also noticed that to avoid Police checking people even crossed river by walking and endangering their lives. The incidents of an accident on road were also noticed when trucks or other vehicles met with accidents causing loss of humane life. This is now clear that migrant labour moved not willingly but because of the changed circumstances due to the COVID- 19 pandemic and lockdown.
The question arises naturally that
Was there any effective administration at Government level? If yes, then why thousands of people moved out breaking lockdown? This certainly poses a question and indicates the weaknesses in the system. The Government whether central did not arrange to repatriate migrant labour to home state or any State Government in spite of different political ideology could not make arrangement in absence of permission from the centre to repatriate or made efforts to redress the grievances of migrant labour.
Of late when the exodus of migrant labour could not even be stopped by use of police force than Government on 1st May 2020 thought of sending people through Sharmik Trains. in spite of Govt. efforts, it took much more time to repatriate and many labourers died on way due to various reasons. The Supreme Court also took Suo Motto cognizance of the migrant labour issue and directed for the relief to be provided to reduce their grievances.
Now the question arises is it the end of a problem or the beginning of a new problem?
The different State Governments are now assuring employment to the migrant labour which actually is their own state labour force.
Presently no one can guess about the success of the State Governments but we feel the origin of the problem was from the State Government as earlier they could not provide employment to their own labour force resulting in the migration of their own labour to other parts of the country having the opportunity of the job with their own efforts and without the help of any Government whether centre or State. This was the beginning of the problem and now migrant labour is coming back home also seems to be beginning of the problem afresh putting the question on functioning of the Government, both Centre or State, at both times i.e. when labour from one State moved for work to another or migrant labour returned to their home town. The Supreme court suo motto took cognizance of the migration problem and directedCentre to do the needful for the redressal of the migrant issue. Even yesterday supreme court asked states to send migrants home with in 15 days while reserving the final order for 9th June 2020.
By Varun Bhardwaj:
City Reporter