Migrants continue to walk as Maharashtra government drags its feet

Zyada se zyada kya hoga Mar hi jaunga na chalte chalte Whats the worse that could happen Ill die right These disturbing words of a physically challenged migrant walking home to UP from Thane sum up the mood of hundreds like him trudging home With no clarity from the government the migrants continue to risk their lives on highwaysHundreds of the migrant workers continue to walk to Uttar Pradesh and even Nagpur As it is difficult to walk in the scorching heat most rest during the day and walk at nights on highways They poured their hearts out to middayA majority of the migrants work as labourers on at underconstruction sites in MMR They said they were leaving Mumbai as they had no access to food and essential items at their workplaces At least 1000 men women and children were seen walking along the MumbaiAgra highway between the ThaneKalyan junctionsMost of the migrants will walk over 1600 km to UP PicRanjeet JadhavProcedure not explainedSome people expressed anger against the state and Central governments alleging they were not taking the plight of migrants seriously and this was happening because the authorities on the local level werent cooperative They alleged that local authorities were not explaining relevant procedures Many have filled forms taken medical certificates and got these and other papers stamped by the police to board the transport provided but say they are not being clearly told what is nextKisan Pawar who is heading back to his village near Nagpur with his wife daughter and son said they barely have any money left Staying in Thane with no job or money will be more burdening So we started on the 800kmlong journey on foot said Pawar At night they rested at Kalyan phata for few hours Most migrants have been resting or sleeping on the side of the highwayRajesh Pawar 28 a resident of Gondia district in Maharashtra worked as a labourer at a construction site in Thane Since work stopped and he has no money left he and his wife have started walking with their twoyearold daughter An emotional Rajesh said I pray that such difficult times dont befall anyone No one really cares about the poor and thats why we have no other option but to walk We dont even have money to buy tickets and food We hope to reach our village because the safety of my daughter is very importantI would have died anywayA man with a deformed foot who did not wish to be named will be walking over 1600 km to reach his village in UP Aise bhi mar jaate kyon ki khaane ke liye kuch nahi hai Us se behtar hai jahan tak chal saku wahan tak jaun is umeed se ke ghar pohochunga Jyada se jyada kya hoga Mar hi jaunga na chalte chalte I would have died anyway because I wasnt getting any food Its better that I walk as far as I can in the hope that I will reach home Whats the worst that could happen Ill die right he saidSuhel Ahmed and Irshad Khan who worked at a construction site in Thane had approached local authorities to know about the procedure to go back home But they claimed they werent given clarity about when they would be allowed to go back so they left for Uttar Pradesh on footNo coordinationIrshad Khan told midday We waited in Thane all this time because the government had told us it would make arrangements at the right time for migrants to go home But there seems to be lack of coordination between the Centre and state For the past two days we ran from pillar to post getting medical certificates and filling forms but there was no clarity on what next We have a few hundred rupees and before that too gets over we want to reach home God knows when we will reachThe chairperson of an NGO says the government must instill confidence in migrants Jalpesh Mehta chairperson Empower Foundation said Walking on the highway for kilometres is a risky affair and may also see migrants die due to hunger or exertion and not because of COVID19 We have worked with government authorities and police in Maharashtra and Gujarat to provide food to the migrants and the support on the ground from authorities has been excellent The living conditions of the migrants and support from their employers is indeed very poor but the need of the hour is instillation of confidence in the migrants by the government on the ground that they will be taken care of and there are planned exits mdash trains and buses to help them reach back home safely1000No of people seen walking along MumbaiAgra highwayCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news