Migrants make a bee line at the Margao railway station to head home on Thursday. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Fears of a longer lockdown, prospects of a ration shortage and unemployment seems to have forced migrants to pack their bags and leave for their native States.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s message that industrial and business services will not be affected by the State lockdown seemed to have not percolated down to allay fears of the migrant population.
If there was panic and mad rush at the railway stations on Wednesday to catch the Patna Express, migrants from the North Indian States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, besides the neighbouring country of Nepal, including families and children descended at the Margao railway station to catch the Goa Express train on Thursday.
Take note, they aren’t displaced from their jobs yet, but they do not want to take any risk this time round given their last year’s bitter memories.
A native of Nepal, who was working in a hotel informed that he has packed his bags to head to his country with the owner shutting down the premises. “He did not even clear my full wages, but I have decided to go back to my country since the Covid situation is going from bad to worse in India”, Piren said.
The daily wage workers engaged in chipping, painting and other odd works seemed to be the first to pack their bags and head to the railway station. Since they are all daily wage workers, eking a living during lockdown and paying the rent to the landlords seemed to have weighed heavily on their minds before they decided to head home.
A native of Bihar told The Goan that they have no idea what lays in store for them during the lockdown.
“In the event of a lockdown, we will not get any ration to sustain ourselves. At least back home, we can survive with the available means”, he said, while saying that he and his family will certainly return to Goa after the situation stabilizes.
Another native of Uttar Pradesh informed that he has decided to leave for his home State since many people from his State has left Goa in the wake of worsening Covid situation across the country. “After the government announced the lockdown, I do not think there would be jobs available for chipping and other odd jobs. Hence, I along with my colleagues have decided to go home”, he added.
Another UP native by name Suraj said that a longer lockdown will only lead them to starvation since they depend on the daily wages. “How will we pay the monthly rent to the landlord and from where will the ration come to daily wage earners such as me”, he questioned.
Hasim Siddique, a native of UP said at least he can stay with his family back home during the lockdown and then decide whether to return to Goa in the event the situation returns to normal.
