‘Unlike last time, no max scramble by migrants to leave before lockdown’

The authorities resolution to go for a week-long Statewide lockdown appears to have evoked blended response among the many migrant group, going by the preliminary indicators a day before the lockdown.

Notwithstanding the impulse among the many group to return dwelling on the first signal of uncertainty, the vast majority of the migrant staff engaged by contractors appears to have chosen to keep again no less than in the interim reassured by their employers’ promise to maintain them throughout the lockdown and provides them jobs thereafter. The similar, nevertheless, can’t be stated concerning the footloose migrants left to fend for themselves.

“They have a propensity to return since the lockdown will render them jobless making their stay unfeasible. It is better for the jobless migrants to return home as unlike the last lockdown when they were well-taken care of, the healthcare sector and even the civil society organisations remain crippled by the fresh onslaught of the pandemic. But the non-payment of wages are holding them back at many places,” stated Benoy Peter, govt director, Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development.

He stated that whereas there may be no panic scramble for returning dwelling amongst migrants as of now, it might change if fatalities rise both right here or amongst their households again at their dwelling States.

S. Chithra, State Labour Commissioner, stated that no development of a panic return is seen but. “District collectors and joint commissioners have also confirmed it. Migrants seem to be happy with assured work and high wages here. Besides, a large section of those who desired to return have already done so,” she stated.

It additionally appears seemingly that the federal government could allow works participating migrant staff offered they concerned little motion and had been contained inside an space.

While civil society organisations complain that practice tickets weren’t available, Railways paint a special image.

“We have introduced special trains in the West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar belt, which is much in demand among migrants. Reservation counters are working between 8 a.m and 8 p.m like during the pre-Covid days though migrants seem more comfortable with online booking. The Southern Railways headquarters is monitoring the reservation pattern and will introduce more trains, if so warranted. Most special trains have been introduced from Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram,” stated a Railway spokesperson.

He stated that there was no extreme rush at railway stations on account of the gang management administration system by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and correct dissemination of details about railway companies amongst migrants by the Labour Department.

RPF sources stated that they’ve tightened entry management and crowd administration measures with entry restricted solely to these with confirmed tickets and thru a single entry.

Even the Aluva railway station referred to as the primary transit hub of migrants didn’t expertise a lot rush on Friday. “In fact, the train to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh had passed Aluva on Friday morning with only about 50% occupancy compared to trains on Thursday evening that operated full,,” stated RPF sources at Aluva.

Meanwhile, personal contract carriages working long-distance journeys, the prefered selection of migrants of late, have chosen to droop their companies pending additional instructions from the federal government.

“Our association has decided to schedule only services that will cross the Walayar border at the latest by Friday midnight. Besides, the suspension of KSRTC services may hamper the access of migrants to our services since they come from various districts,” stated P. I. Tencen who has been working up to three such companies a day from Ernakulam. Routes had been scheduled relying on demand and just lately companies had been principally operated to West Bengal and before that to Assam.