Chandigarh, May 14 – The Haryana Government continues to send migrant labourers keen to return to their home states. In this sequence today, more than 7000 labourers, out of which 1600 passengers from Gurugram to Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), 1200 from Gurugram to Khagaria (Bihar), 1450 from Narnaul to Purnia (Bihar) and 1440 from Panipat to Muzaffarpur (Bihar) were sent to their home states through five Special Shramik Trains.
Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has directed all the officers of all the District Administrations that it is not only necessary to send migrant labourers to their home states but it is also necessary to ensure that they do not face any kind of trouble during their journey. The Chief Minister said, these labourers have given their significant contribution for building Haryana and hence it is our moral responsibility to take care of them.
Today the Special Shramik Train carrying about 1200 migrant labourers which departed for Khagaria in Bihar from Gurugram railway station will arrive at Khangaria station at 11 am tomorrow. According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, thermal scanning of the passengers was done at the station premises before leaving. The District Administration provided all the labourers with food packets, drinking water, chips and chocolates for children, and other necessities. Volunteers from the District Red Cross Society and Civil Defense played an important role in this task. While boarding the special train, the joy of returning home was evident on their faces. They expressed their gratitude towards the State Government and the District Administration by applauding before the train departed from the station.
One of the passengers, Ajay Kumar Mandal, a resident of Katihar, said that he has lived in Sohna in Gurugram for the last 5 years. He had been taking care of his family by selling ice cream before the lockdown. However, he is out of work because of the lockdown and he would return after the situation improves.
Similarly, Naveen, Mithun Mukesh, Jawahar, Munna, Mohammad, etc. shared that in this difficult time the State Government has given them a big gift by arranging to send them home free of cost. They said that while they did not face any kind of problem regarding food, shelter and essential items over the last 50 days, they wanted to visit their village once.
1440 labourers sent from Panipat to Muzaffarpur (Bihar)
Buses brought 1440 labourers from the International Horticulture Market, Ganaur to Panipat from where they departed for Muzaffarpur (Bihar). The joy of going home could be seen from afar on the faces of these labourers. Raja and Ajay Kumar, who left for Siwan, and Chandan and Baliram Yadav of Madhubani, said that the Haryana Government has given them reason to rejoice by sending them to their home states during lockdown. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the arrangements made by the State Government and the District Administration. Similarly, Rajkumar, Roshan Kumar and Radhe Mandal belonging to Madhubani, said that the District Administration of Sonipat had made good arrangements. Krishna Rai from Gopalganj and Vivek Kumar from Sitamarhi said that even during the lockdown, the labourers did not face any problem. They were provided meals regularly; however, they wished to visit home once to meet their families.
1443 agricultural labourers to go to Kishanganj in Bihar from Rewari
A Special Shramik Train carrying 1443 agricultural migrant labourers departed from Rewari Junction today for Kishanganj in Bihar. All these agricultural labourers who were stranded during lockdown were allowed to board the train after medical screening as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Central Government. In addition, thermal scanning and health checkup of each labourer was carried out by teams of doctors before they boarded the trains. Adequate food and drinking water etc. was provided to them.