Most workers are so desperate to meet their families that they don’t want to waste time waiting for government relief.
Two migrants Prayag Mahto and his 18 year old son Jitendra Kumar Mahto have reached Gomia their native village travelling 1950 km by auto-rickshaw. He said that the fear of coronavirus and further survival crisis gave them so much strength that they could reach their destination.
“I was in Bhayandar district in Maharashtra along with my 18-year- old son Jitendra Kumar Mahato. We used to make living by driving auto MH-04-HZ 0335. As complete lockdown, the financial crisis also increased in front of us, and our landlord where we lived on rent said that we cannot help you. The landlord said that if you will stay here then you will have to pay rent,” Mahto said.
Hundreds of people were leaving for their homes from Maharashtra, so we also thought that it was better to go from here. If we will reach home, at least we will not die of hunger. There will be some arrangement there, added Paryag Mahto.
They said that on May 7, they have started their journey on their own auto from Bhayandar district town in Mumbai with his son. Five days later, they reached their home in the late in the evening of 12 May.
Local administration has sent them in quarantine center at Uchaya prathamik School, Jatratand in Narkandi village.
Paryag Mahto further said that when they left, we had nothing in their pockets except for some clothes and some stuff filled in two bags. We were coming by auto for the first time, so we had no idea of the route, due to which we had to go astray. The policemen were also stopping everywhere but considering our helplessness and let us go ahead.
During these five days, he continued to drive the auto, stopping only five-seven minutes every hour and for resting. He says, he used to rest for two-four hours at night. Sometimes he stopped at a petrol pump or used to relax outside the shops which were closed.
His son, Jitendra Kumar Mahto told that in Jharkhand government’s help App, he got registered 8 days before the release on May 7 but there was no administrative support nor financial (? 1000) support.