Are Migrant Labourers Aliens?
The decision to cancel Question Hour in Parliament has become a subject of discussion in the media. But people have not been specially concerned about this as the government not been giving the right answer to any question. In many instances, the government provided questions as the answers to questions! Even when the government answered some questions, the country’s media did not show any interest in them. Besides, when the answers to all the questions is just one name, Modi, the government must have realized that there is no need to waste time by allowing time for questions and must have done away with Question Hour.
The response to the questions on lockdown and the deaths of migrant labourers shows the prevalent atmosphere in the country. Although the heart-wrenching plight of migrant workers who walked for miles together during the lockdown to reach their destinations, their struggles, and battle for life and death caught the attention of the global media, this government does not have any information about this it seems! The government has said that it does not have any mechanism at the district level to collect information about the migrant labourers. At the same time, officials have also been claiming that mechanisms are in place at the municipality levels to collect the information of births and deaths according to the parameters developed a few years ago. The government has also clarified that it has not taken any action to rehabilitate migrant labourers who have lost their jobs or done anything for those who died during the lockdown.
There are two ways in which the government’s answer can be interpreted. First, the government does not consider migrant labourers as citizens of the country and therefore has shirked away from its responsibility of reacting to their plight. Second, it is reluctant to reveal the numbers that it has. According to a source, the government has collected information about migrant labourers. This has been revealed through an RTI application filed by ‘The Wire’. In its answers to RTI applications filed in 18 divisions of the Indian Railways, it has been confirmed that about 80 people – including two newborn babies and one 86-year old person - have died in Shramik Trains. But this number does not reflect their true struggles. These migrant labourers were forced to return to their hometowns in a situation where it was impossible for them to live in cities. But as there were no vehicles to travel, they had to walk hundreds of kms. Their long journeys on road was reported extensively on the front pages of the media. Some of them died mid-way during their journey and some even died of hunger. Even after they reached their hometowns, it was difficult for them to gain entry into their villages as villagers were not willing to accept them. They found themselves in precarious situations where they had to be quarantined under trees or on the side of roads. Had the government extended a helping hand to these migrant labourers, it should have known the numbers. The government’s statement that it has no records shows that it has not provided any succour to them.
The answers to the question as to why lockdown has failed in the country or how the Coronavirus has reached the community level can be found in the government’s response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced lockdown unilaterally without making any preparations as he did during demonetization. The objective of a lockdown is to stop people from coming in touch with each other and thereby making sure that the Coronavirus does not spread. But the government’s objective failed within one week. Similar to how honeybees leave their honeycombs in cities due to the smoke that emanates from fire, soon after the lockdown was announced migrant labourers started gathering in bus shelters and on roads. With shops shut, markets closed, and people hiding in their homes, migrant labourers threw the rules to the wind and appeared to have decided they would rather die of the Coronavirus instead of perishing in hunger. Some of them who were walking along railway lines died on the tracks with trains running over them. Lockdown failed as it was announced hastily without considering the problems that migrant labourers, who make up such a huge chunk of our population, could face.
The Coronavirus spread and reached the community level through migrant labourers. The sacrifices made by people during the lockdown failed due to the irresponsibility of the government. The government’s statement that it has no information or data about migrant labourers reveals that the government has not yet woken up to the reality of the problems of labourers and still believes that ‘Ambanis’ and ‘Adanis’ comprise the country.
It seems that the government considers migrant labourers as aliens. The government has also forgotten that these migrant labourers are the foundation for the development of cities. How will a building survive when it does not have a sound foundation? The migrant labourers who lost their livelihood after demonetization were completely destroyed after lockdown. Rebuilding the lives of migrant labourers should be the first priority of the government. To achieve this, the government should gather the relevant information, including the number of people who died, and the present situation of those who are alive. It is high time the government realizes that the country cannot make progress without rebuilding the lives of migrant labourers.
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Three National Conference workers injured in stabbing incident at poll rally in JK's Poonch
Mendhar/Jammu, May 19: Three National Conference (NC) workers were injured when unidentified persons attacked them with knives at an election rally in Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday, officials said.
NC president Farooq Abdullah was present at the rally organised by the party in support of its Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat candidate Mian Altaf in Mendhar. The rally continued without any disruption.
Officials said there was a clash between two groups over some issue during the rally. Taking advantage of the melee, the attackers managed to escape, the officials said.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and are trying to nab the culprits, they said.
Sohail Ahmad and Yaseer Ahmad, both residents of Harni, and Mohd Imran of Kasblari village, received stab injuries and were taken to a local hospital, the officials said.
They said the condition of Sohail and Yaseer was stated to be serious and they were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Rajouri for specialised treatment, they added.
Senior NC leader Javed Ahmad Rana termed the incident a "security lapse" and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
He said it is very strange that people carrying knives managed to enter the rally venue.
"It is a serious incident and should be probed," said Rana.
Some days ago, one of the injured youth's brothers was attacked by the same group and an FIR was registered against the accused, said the NC leader, who rushed to the hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured.
