51 Migrant Labourers in Assam Headed to Bihar Detained in Tinsukia District

Tinsukia, April 14, 2020:

On the day when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3, several migrant labourers from Chapra in Bihar who were seeking to return to their homestate have been detained in Tinsukia district of Assam.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court Orders Release of Foreigners in Assam Detained for 2 Years amid Coronavirus

As many as 51 migrants, en route to their home state in a truck, who are self-admittedly suffering from hunger due to the lockdown, have been detained at Panitola under Assam's Tinsukia district. Somewhat bafflingly, the labourers did not receive a single morsel of food from the Government schemes, they said.

https://www.facebook.com/ne.inside/videos/820619808431692/

Talking to Inside Northeast, the labourers have complained that they have no means of employment since the lockdown began and whatever money they had, they used up in the 21 days. They did not get any food for the last few days and were left with no choice but to return to Bihar. they have said. They are currently being detained at the Marwari Panchayati Dharmsala in Tinsukia.

ALSO READ: Assam: 90-Year-Old Hypertension Patient Receives Medicines from Good Samaritan Cops amid Lockdown

"Again there is lockdown. What 2-5 thousand we earned we spent on food. We sent some savings to our families. However, since we did not get any money or wages, where from will we eat?",  said one of the labourers. "They simply said that the lockdown has been extended and we cannot go anywhere", he further added.

According to the labourers, they were trying to leave Assam as the lockdown was supposed to be lifted, but it has again been extended in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

He further said that the country has to fight the coronavirus battle even more strictly. Asserting that stringent measures will be enforced now, PM Modi said, “We cannot let our guard lower now. The hotspots need to stay alert and the places which are emerging as new hotspots need to be closely monitored as well.

Till April 20, we will monitor how well the districts are doing. In places where the situation is improving, few relaxations will be made,” PM Modi said, adding that relaxations will be cancelled if the situation deteriorates later. The Prime Minister, during his address to the nation, praised the public for cooperating with the lockdown.

However, the migrant labourer population stranded in clumps across the nation continues to feel the burn from the Government-imposed lockdown.

On Tuesday, BSP Chief Mayawati slammed the Centre and the state governments for the problems that migrant labourers had to face after the imposition of the countrywide lockdown last month.

"Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the miserable situation of Dalits, Adivasis and marginalised that we saw, it makes it clear that the Central and state government's mentality has not changed towards them," accused Mayawati.

Note: The data on migration by last residence in India as per Census 2001 shows that the total number of migrants has been 314 million. Out of these migrants by last residence, 268 million (85%) has been intra-state migrants, those who migrated from one are of the state to another.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.