Hit by corona lockdown, thousands of impoverished daily wagers and labourers, including women and children, started returning to their “homes” in the national Capital on Sunday after the Delhi Police sealed arterial roads in the city, especially those leading to the border areas, hours after the Centre asked State Governments to ensure there is no movement of people across cities.
Cops are turning back migrant workers travelling by foot after Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava strictly directed his personnel to stop movement of migrants.
Many people were seen trying to walk on the railway tracks at Anand Vihar to go their hometowns in UP.
All DCPs, ACPs and SHOs have been instructed to conduct extensive patrolling in their respective areas and deploy maximum number of vehicles for patrolling to check the movement of migrants.
In his tweet, Kejriwal said, “I assure you that the Delhi Government has made sufficient arrangements for your food and accommodation. For now, do not go to your villages in the country’s interest.”
Now with the border sealed, daily wagers and labourers are looking at administrative support for food and shelter. “I have not paid rent to my landlord this month and cannot pay it next month as the factory we worked is closed. We are left with no option except leaving the city by any mode of transport available,” said Rambhuwan, who along with with his wife and two children were returned from the bus terminal by the police.
Phulmati Devi (24), who works as a maid, said she was told by her owners not to come after the news of virus spread. “They are rich people but they are stingy. They refused to give me salary. I have three children. How can I survive in such a situation,” she asked.
“Where the food is being given free? I have been searching for it. Do you think people will travel two or three kilometers daily to have lunch and dinner at night shelters? We cannot even walk to shelters or schools during lock-down where food is being distributed as police will stop us. Who will care us then, no one actually,” said Bhima Mahto with tears welling in his eyes.
Panicked women and children, who reached Anand Vihar bus terminal on Sunday hoping to board the bus, started crying soon after the announcements were made that they have to go back.
“We are not financially strong to manage the daily affairs sitting at home. We are totally dependent on Government now for survival. We thought to return back to our village in Bihar so that at least we don’t die of starvation but now our only hope to rush to our home is dashed,” Kalawati told The Pioneer as she walked along the outer Ring Road carrying her belongings on her head.
Faizan Ansari, (24) said, “I just came in the city three months back. I started working in a factory at Shakurpur area. We were told that factory is closed due to some disease. We were not given salaries. I borrowed a few hundred from a friend and went to Anand Vihar to catch a bus to reach my village in Sitamarhi (Bihar) but won’t be able to do so as police did not allow us to cross the border.”