They walk, they help... humanity survives
| Date :05-May-2020 |
By Kartik Lokhande ;
Some have lost their footwear, but not the hope! They know, though, that they have to travel long distances -- maybe on foot -- back home. And the tenuous hope is their companion. And, why would they lose hope when there is a big number of people out there to help them in their effort to survive the crisis. They are migrant workers -- stranded away from their homes as lock-down became necessary. Since the lockdown came into force in the wake of COVID-19 crisis, one has gotten used to seeing small groups of migrant workers walking down from the place where they were stranded to their native place. Most of them are hungry, thirsty and tired.
Everyday, one can see small groups passing through the city. Men are carrying bags, women are carrying children and everyone carrying a weariness. The rising summer temperature tries to crack their resolve, but fails. Of late, with certain relaxation, buses are plying from Gujarat to Odisha. These buses carry workers stranded in Gujarat to their native places in Odisha.
These buses also pass through Nagpur district. Some are exhausted, some need medical assistance and almost all are hungry. The social organisations, people from villages along the highway and doctors, are providing them food, medicines and hope. One such spot, which is witnessing daily rush of around 5,000 persons, either walking down to their native places or in buses plying between Gujarat and Odisha, is Nagpur by-pass toll plaza at Panjri on Wardha Road. Vinod Pathak, Patrolling In-charge, Nagpur by-pass toll plaza at Panjri along Wardha Road, told ‘The Hitavada’ that, since the lockdown began, he and his staff had started providing water and biscuits to stranded workers walking down to their native places. Gradually, Pathak came to know that some villagers from the nearby villages also were extending help. Later on, they co-ordinated their efforts and started serving the people in a better manner. “Previously, there used to be around 2,000 to 2,500 persons walking down to their native places.
Now, since the plying of buses has started between States, we are serving around 5,000 persons everyday,” Pathak said. In the endeavour, apart from various social organisations from Nagpur, villagers of Panjri, Kharsoli and Velahari are playing an important role, he added. National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), SVMM, ONBPCL and others, with co-operation from the district administration and Police Department, have been a part of this humanitarian effort. Sewakji Sontakke, former Deputy Sarpanch of Khapri Gram Panchayat, said that, many people were still walking down to their villages as they were unable to pay for the bus/truck travel, which usually costs Rs 3,500/- per head. People walking down also include pregnant women and small children.
“It is painful to see these people making effort to reach to their native places, braving summer heat, hunger, etc.,” he added. He and other villagers are providing food to these persons as well as those travelling by bus and taking a stop at Panjri toll plaza. “Thanks to individuals and organisations, who have been donating generously for the cause, we never felt that we are alone or short on resources in helping these stranded people,” said Sontakke. In fact, he added, villagers and social organisations collected footwear for the persons walking down home.
For, footwear of many of these stranded workers had worn out due to long walks and in summer heat, it was very painful for them to continue walking. Dr Taneshwar Gautam, Resident Medical Officer, Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission, Khapri, said that his team and also the doctors and staff from Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Suretech Hospital, etc. were extending medical assistance to the workers. Around 2,000-2,500 people are still walking everyday. Besides, buses are carrying workers from Gujarat to Odisha. On Sunday, 42 buses for stranded workers passed by Panjri. The buses take a stop near Panjri toll plaza for food and water. There, the buses are being sanitised with spray. Dr Gautam asked the workers as to why were they still walking down to their native places when the Government had made arrangements for food and shelter during the lockdown period. To this, he said, the workers replied that the help coming from the contractors they worked for was drying up and summer was reaching at its peak. Besides, uncertainty about lockdown period haunted the workers.
“Some workers even said that they did not want to die of hunger, at a place far away from their native place and family,” he added. The volunteers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been providing relief to these workers. Rashtra Sevika Samiti also made special kits for women among these workers. Local Swayamsevaks and villagers collected chappals from households, bought new ones and gave those to workers. Situations, situations... The workers are being given tablets, oral dehydration syrup or ORS, medicines, etc. Doctors are providing medical assistance. Still, sometimes, they come across situations that moves them. Recently, an eight-month pregnant woman was in the group of workers walking down to their native place in adjoining State.
As she could not bear the pain of walking for long, she sat on the roadside. Someone informed the villagers, who spoke to doctors. An ambulance took her to Panjri toll booth, where a doctor was called. As per the doctor’s advice, she was shifted to Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission Hospital at Khapri, where she was given medical assistance. However, as she felt better and regained her strength, she left on her own. In another instance, six workers asked the volunteers who provided them food and water, for second-hand bicycles. These workers had started walking from MIHAN area and wanted bicycles to reach their homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.