Mumbai: The Maharashtra government’s orders curbing people’s movement and working hours of industries and businesses to tackle the surge in Covid-19 cases has sparked a wave of fear among migrant workers about being stranded without work.
“While the government has not announced a full lockdown, the restrictions may ultimately lead to a total shutdown of activity considering the rising number of Covid cases” feared Asif a migrant construction worker from Bihar.
Industry players too worry that the government’s restrictions would not smooth functioning of businesses.
The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) has stated that the heightened uncertainty has unsettled inter and intra-state migrant labourers. If they choose to leave for home, it would be devastating for the recovery process.
According to reports some of the migrant workers in Mumbai and Pune industrial belts are set to leave. “There is fear that the government might stop buses and trains and they would be stuck here without any work or livelihood,” said a migrant worker at a construction site in Pune’s Kondhwa region, echoing the prevalent concern.
The State government on April 7 issued a clarification on its earlier orders saying that public transport will be allowed to function with some conditions. Also, the government has said that quarantine centres that have to be set up for industries having more than 500 workers must have all basic facilities on campus.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/maharashtras-covid-curbs-leave-migrants-worried-about-job-loss/article34266580.ece
The migrants need to make up their minds properly in relation to their plan of action vis-a-vis the pandemic dictated restrictions imposed by the governments of various states. It cost the exchequer tremendously to have them all transported to their respective destinations. That was the right time for them to decide on staying put in their hometowns and earn their livelihoods. After all, the CM of UP had made a grand announcement that those hiring migrants from his state would have to apply to the state government for permission, as though he it was that was feeding them for free whilst the governments of the states where they worked left them penniless! Whatever happened to that silly employment scheme of the yogi I wonder!
It’s time the migrants realized that the governments of the states they come from (particularly to Mumbai) indulge only in lip service and will do nothing to ensure a steady livelihood for for them and their families and accordingly rough it out until the situation clears rather than desert ship when it is apparently sinking.