MUMBAI: Days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi offered to pay for the travel of stranded migrant workers by trains to their homes, a Bihari NGO has offered to pay for the travel cost of 50 trains to carry Bihari migrants and students stranded in Mumbai.
Pained by the plight of lakhs of Bihari migrant workers and students in Mumbai, Bihar Navnirman Yuva Abhiyan, an NGO working for the welfare of Biharis, has written to Union railway minister Piyush Goyal, demanding 50 trains which can take stuck Bihari migrants from Mumbai to Bihar. The Abhiyan's organiser Tanvir Alam has said that the cost of tickets for passengers of 50 trains will be borne by his NGO.
"We are confident that we can afford to pay for the tickets of migrants who travel by these 50 trains. The railway ministry should consider it and order the release of 50 trains for this purpose," said Mumbai-based Alam. He added that, since most migrant workers live is congested slums where social distancing is difficult to maintain, it will be better if they are sent to their villages.
"Thousands in slums use a single toilet. The small rooms they live in are crammed and there is little chance of maintaining social distancing. Above all, they don't have money and their survival in the city is difficult," Alam said.
When asked how will his NGO pay for around 60,000 migrants--1200 per train, Alam said he would crowd fund. "We would approach Bihari entrepreneurs, businessmen and professionals and get the required money. Money will not be an issue. The railway ministry should give a go ahead and direct the railway authorities to make 50 trains available to us," he said.
Thousands of Biharis have submitted forms to different police stations in the city and await a call to catch the trains to Bihar. '"I submitted a form in Ghtkopar police station last week but have not received any message yet. I don't know when will I be allowed to board so train. I don't have money and have survived on charity or some money I borrowed from friends so far. It is difficult to survive here now," said Mohammed Fareed, a resident of Darbhanga who used to work at bag making unit in Ghtkopar, shut since March 24.
Pained by the plight of lakhs of Bihari migrant workers and students in Mumbai, Bihar Navnirman Yuva Abhiyan, an NGO working for the welfare of Biharis, has written to Union railway minister Piyush Goyal, demanding 50 trains which can take stuck Bihari migrants from Mumbai to Bihar. The Abhiyan's organiser Tanvir Alam has said that the cost of tickets for passengers of 50 trains will be borne by his NGO.
"We are confident that we can afford to pay for the tickets of migrants who travel by these 50 trains. The railway ministry should consider it and order the release of 50 trains for this purpose," said Mumbai-based Alam. He added that, since most migrant workers live is congested slums where social distancing is difficult to maintain, it will be better if they are sent to their villages.
"Thousands in slums use a single toilet. The small rooms they live in are crammed and there is little chance of maintaining social distancing. Above all, they don't have money and their survival in the city is difficult," Alam said.
When asked how will his NGO pay for around 60,000 migrants--1200 per train, Alam said he would crowd fund. "We would approach Bihari entrepreneurs, businessmen and professionals and get the required money. Money will not be an issue. The railway ministry should give a go ahead and direct the railway authorities to make 50 trains available to us," he said.
Thousands of Biharis have submitted forms to different police stations in the city and await a call to catch the trains to Bihar. '"I submitted a form in Ghtkopar police station last week but have not received any message yet. I don't know when will I be allowed to board so train. I don't have money and have survived on charity or some money I borrowed from friends so far. It is difficult to survive here now," said Mohammed Fareed, a resident of Darbhanga who used to work at bag making unit in Ghtkopar, shut since March 24.
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