Shramik train: The trains to ferry migrants were started last week (File)
The special trains that would have carried Karnataka's migrant workers home have been cancelled by the BS Yeddyurappa government, citing the resumption of construction work in the state. The decision has evoked outrage. The opposition Congress has said then government was holding the workers "captive" and pointed out that they were not "bonded labour".
Ten special trains were to run from Bengaluru to different northern states this week. But the state has requested the railways to cancel them, virtually locking in lakhs of labourers from faraway Bihar, Bengal or Uttar Pradesh desperate to go home. When the lockdown was announced, many had tried to walk all the way. Not everyone reached.
Pointing out that the government's move will force the migrants to stay in the state, when others across the country were going home, Congress's Siddaramaiah tweeted:
The decision to go back or to stay back should be with the labourers & not with the government. Labourers are free to choose health or work. Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong?
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 6, 2020
Are we still practicing bonded labour?
For me #MigrantLivesMatter!!
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"We can't keep them (the migrant labourers) captive. We have to take them into confidence. The government and builders must give them incentives," senior Congress chief DK Shivakumar told NDTV.
The government has said many migrant labourers are already gone and now, they are needed in the state since construction activities are resuming.
"We have sent around one lakh people in 3,500 buses and trains back to their home towns. I have also appealed to migrant workers to stay as the construction work has resumed now," Chief Minister Yeddyurappa told reporters today.
The state has also announced an extra Rs 3,000 for construction workers -- in addition to the Rs 2,000 they received earlier -- while announcing a Rs 1,600 crore relief package today for groups worst hit by the lockdown. The government said the money is for "registered" construction workers - which would also include locals.
Indicating that the measure was not enough, Siddaramaiah tweeted:
Had the interests of labourers been taken care by the concerned stakeholders, migrants may have stayed back.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 6, 2020
Even govt did little to address their concerns.
I strongly urge @CMofKarnataka to arrange trains for those migrants who wish to go back.#MigrantLivesMatter
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As income dried up overnight due to the lockdown announced on March 25, thousands of migrant labourers set off for their home states on foot, arguing that hunger would kill then before coronavirus did. The trains to ferry them were started last week after much back and forth between the Centre and the states.
The BJP said the workers can be sent back if they wished."Whoever is interested is staying here. If they are not interested, they will be sent back. If there is a demand, definitely we will request the chief minister," said former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.
The party's Bengaluru MP Tejasvi Surya hailed the move of Mr Yeddyurappa, claiming it would help the state emerge stronger. "Stoppage of inter-state trains by Sri @BSYBJP is a bold and necessary move. It will help migrant labourers who came here with hopes of a better life to restart their dreams. Also, it will kickstart economic activities full throttle. Karnataka will emerge out of this stronger!" his tweet read.
