GREATER NOIDA: A Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher posted in Jammu had to undertake an over 1,000km journey by road to perform his father’s last rites in their native district of Lakhimpur Kheri in UP.
On April 18, Ashish Khare got a call from his younger brother from Lakhimpur Kheri that their father had passed away after battling cancer for a prolonged period. And thanks to the Greater Noida Authority helpline for migrants, he was able to reach Lakhimpur Kheri a day later to conduct the last rites of his father, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.
“At first I thought of skipping the cremation. I had to cross four states to get to Uttar Pradesh. But I was the elder son. Also even the immediate kin said it would be difficult to attend the cremation due to the lockdown. My younger brother pleaded with me to come over somehow,” Ashish told TOI over the phone on Wednesday.
Ashish said he learned about the helpline number, which had been set up by UP government to help the stranded migrants. He dialled the helpline number operational at the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. CEO Narendra Bhooshan is the nodal officer for migrants stuck in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Leh
Informed about the crisis, Bhooshan got in touch with chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Shaleen Kabra, to organise passes and a vehicle. “An SUV was hired for me and I was given authorisation letter, pass and a sticker for the vehicle. I was able to reach my hometown on April 19 and conducted the last rites the next day. Eight others were also present for the last rites,” said Ashish.
Meanwhile, Tuesday onward, Ashish has started offering lessons to his students through video-conferencing.
On April 18, Ashish Khare got a call from his younger brother from Lakhimpur Kheri that their father had passed away after battling cancer for a prolonged period. And thanks to the Greater Noida Authority helpline for migrants, he was able to reach Lakhimpur Kheri a day later to conduct the last rites of his father, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.
“At first I thought of skipping the cremation. I had to cross four states to get to Uttar Pradesh. But I was the elder son. Also even the immediate kin said it would be difficult to attend the cremation due to the lockdown. My younger brother pleaded with me to come over somehow,” Ashish told TOI over the phone on Wednesday.
Ashish said he learned about the helpline number, which had been set up by UP government to help the stranded migrants. He dialled the helpline number operational at the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. CEO Narendra Bhooshan is the nodal officer for migrants stuck in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Leh
Informed about the crisis, Bhooshan got in touch with chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Shaleen Kabra, to organise passes and a vehicle. “An SUV was hired for me and I was given authorisation letter, pass and a sticker for the vehicle. I was able to reach my hometown on April 19 and conducted the last rites the next day. Eight others were also present for the last rites,” said Ashish.
Meanwhile, Tuesday onward, Ashish has started offering lessons to his students through video-conferencing.
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