Uttar Pradesh: Distress calls from 37,000 stranded migrants in a week

LUCKNOW: While Uttar Pradesh grapples with the influx of migrants, the state government received more than 37,000 distress calls from stranded migrants on the CM helpline number over the last week, taking the count to 1 lakh SOS calls since the pandemic triggered a nationwide lockdown. This apart, over 5 lakh people have reached out to the government on CM’s jansunwai portal.
A senior official in CM’s office said, at least six people are counted as ‘stranded’ on a single distress call, forcing an estimate of 60,000 people stuck in Maharashtra alone. Likewise, around 40,230 are stranded in Delhi and over 30,000 in Punjab.

Sources said, around 5,722 calls were received on May 5 and this peaked to 6,114 on May 8. Distress calls, however, began to taper down when Railways began operating Shramik Special trains to bring migrants home.
Data accessed by TOI show the number of SOS calls dipped to 3,312 on May 9, marginally rose to 5,338 on May 10 and then again fell to 3,333 on May 11.
In this period, a maximum of 10,509 distress calls were received from Maharashtra, followed by Delhi (6,344), Punjab (5,408), Gujarat (3,559), Karnataka (1,441) and Tamil Nadu (1,042).
“Most stranded migrants spoke about lack of money, food and no jobs,” said chief minister’s secretary, Alok Kumar. “We are keeping a close watch on distress calls and accordingly making arrangements,” he said.
Sources said, UP government is looking at the possibility of bringing back nearly 20 lakh people from other states. According to data, around 7 lakh migrants have completed their quarantine period and are employment friendly. The data is compiled from SOS calls to CM’s hotline, nodal officers and officials at office of state chief secretary.
“We are regularly taking feedback on phone and SMS,” said a senior government official, adding the UP government was also in touch with nodal officers of other states to provide relief to the people.
Sources said, most calls are from migrants who completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in respective states. Therefore, the actual number may be much more, officials said. This would pose a logistical challenge in bringing back people to their home town and providing them employment.
A senior official said, the government will soon dispatch buses to bring back natives from other states. Sources said, Uttar Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation has been told to ready a contingency plan if the lockdown is extended and the government continues to receive the distress calls.