The Supreme Court of India on Thursday ordered that all originating States will provide free food and shelter and free transport facilities to those stranded migrants who are keen to return to their native places.
This has brought a sigh of relief to many stranded migrants, but the Odia migrants who are stuck in Karnataka are still unsure about their return and reunion with their families in native places. For last few days trains are cancelled citing migrants are not willing to return as a reason. But, thousands of migrants are stranded in different places, especially near the railway station, enquiring about train schedule. This has created confusion as well as frustration among migrants and the volunteers in both the States who are working to facilitate these migrants to return.
There are thousands of Odia migrants still waiting to return following lockdown induced job loss, unable to pay house rents and running out of rations. They are regularly enquiring at nearby police stations about timing of trains, surviving with one meal a day and are reeling under penury, hunger and uncertainty of their return to home State. “Their only wish is to return home, but I don’t understand why trains have been cancelled,” said Abhisek Majumdar, a volunteer who has been helping migrants in Bengaluru.
The confusion and frustration started with the complicated registration system. When the Odisha Government announced to bring back all stranded Odia migrants, these migrants registered in Government web portal. Then, the Karnataka Government announced its own procedure for the migrants to board a Shramik Special train from Bengaluru. All have to register at local police station submitting Seva Sindhu application with Aadhaar card number and medical certificate. The police station would call all registered people based on train schedule. Every day Bangalore is receiving 10 trains and only 17,000 people are able to board the train to reach their respective States, where as millions are still waiting. Following a High Court order, the Karnataka Government has allowed free travel on Shramik Special from May 23 till May 31. From June 1 normal trains will start operating and migrants are asked to buy the tickets and board the train. “This will add to their problem as many of them have not received wages,” he said.
In last few days as trains to Odisha have been cancelled migrants are crowding in and around spaces near the station. “All these people gathered because message reached to them. They only want to go home as soon as possible. Some of them are so desperate; they are either walking or returning by private vehicles,” said Majumdar, adding that they are living under open sky for days with a hope to return home. It is high time, the Government should run the train to bring them back.
The situation of stranded single women migrants is more vulnerable. They are prone to physical harassment and trafficking. Pramodini Pradhan, an activist working in Odisha, has been constantly in touch with few migrants including women said, “In this chaos, a tribal woman from Kandhamal has separated from her group and lost her mobile in Bengaluru. She was pleading strangers in tribal language to help her to board Odisha-bound train, when volunteers rescued her. We are trying to help her board the train. Now, with regular cancellation of trains she is mentally disturbed”.
