Telangana: Several workers stranded in uncertainty

HYDERABAD: The announcement of a lockdown has jolted many migrant workers, many of whom don’t have enough money to go back to their home states. Many said that unless someone comes to their rescue, they won’t be able to survive for the next ten days or go back to their villages, without earnings.

“I moved to the city with my husband, four children, and brother sometime back. Even if we want to go back, we need money for tickets. To stay here, we need Rs 5, 500 for rent and more money for essentials,” said Moslema S, a migrant worker from West Bengal residing in Banjara Hills. Moslema, who earns a meagre salary said that if the lockdown had been announced much in advance, her family would have at least stocked up ration by borrowing money, but now they are now left in the lurch.
Similar is the case with Shashi Kumar from Bihar, who returned to the city about a month back. “Now, the state has again announced lockdown. I am planning to somehow manage for the next 10 days and hoping that I can go back to work thereafter,” said Kumar, who stays at Hafeezpet. He said that he has ration left for two more days. “Soon after the state announced the lockdown, my employer left for his village. Now, I don’t even know whom to approach for money,” said Kumar, who earns Rs 250 per day.
Many said that they don’t mind going to work even during the pandemic or lockdown, as it was the only means for them to feed their families “But our owners have asked us not to report to work during the lockdown period,” a migrant worker said.
SCR officials said it is hard to asceratin if there is an increase in number of people leaving the city as all trains being operated are reserved. They said people waiting outside the station may have a reserved ticket for an evening or night train or might be hopeful they would get a ticket to their hometowns for a future date.