Hubballi: Migrants complain of poor facilities, flee isolation

HUBBALLI: Lack of adequate drinking water and sufficient food, besides the fear of being infected, is prompting migrant workers to escape from institutional quarantine facilities like hostels and residential schools.
In the past one week, seven from a quarantine centre in Vijayapura district and three from Maski in Raichur district fled, but police traced them and brought them back. Cops also filed cases against them for violating the DC’s order.
Renuka Halli, SI, Kalakeri police station, Vijayapura district, told TOI that seven persons, including three children, who had been to Mumbai, were placed in institutional quarantine in a residential school at BB Ingalagi village three days ago. After spending a day in quarantine, they picked up a quarrel with in-charge officials over lack of facilities and ran away. “The next day, on being tipped off, we went to their village and brought them back to the quarantine centre. We have filed cases against only four persons since three were children,” said Halli.
“During inquiry, they revealed that they did not have enough water to drink and bathe and so they ran away. District administration has made arrangements to supply water through tankers, but people are unwilling to wait,” she added.
Veeresh, SI from Maski police station said a few days ago, three persons, who came from Mumbai escaped from a facility there. “With the help of a GPS-fencing system, we traced them and brought them back,” said Veeresh.
Manohar Pawar, director, Karnataka Thanda Development Corporation Ltd, Yadgir, said recently some quarantined people in Bevinhalli of Yadgir district tried to exit the centre for want of facilities. Luckily, cops stopped them.
Some officers who are in charge of quarantine centres requesting anonymity said many people in institutional quarantine on the outskirts of cities would pick up quarrels over petty issues and insist on going back home. “They escape when staffs are busy with other work,” they added.
Manju R, from Yadgir, who completed his quarantine, said, “There was neither enough water nor sufficient food at the centre. Bathrooms and toilets stank. Also, food was never served on time.”