Chronic crisis: Migrant Laborers and their fight with COVID-19

Impact on Laborers of COVID-19

If any class has been affected the most due to the lock-down in India, then it is the laboring class. The rich people do not mind the lock-down, the middle classes are also doing their work in some way, but if anyone is suffering the most in the meantime, then it is the laboring class.

And the unfortunate thing is that the laboring class is not suffering from today, it has been suffering even before independence and it is still suffering even after 70 years of independence, there has been no change in his position.

Even after 70 years of independence, there is only deception and deceit in the politics of vote bank for laboring class. In these 70 years, no matter who’s the government is, the only thing about poverty is that it’s still there.

After independence, Mr. Jawaharlal Ji said “remove poverty”, after that Mrs. Indira Gandhiji also gave the same slogan, "Remove poverty" and today Mr. Modiji is also giving the same slogan "Remove Poverty".

    A still from Mill Mazdoor(1934)

Apart from this, uncountable films have been made on the laborers, uncountable poems have been written and thousands of movements have been conducted, but the question arises that whether poverty reduced, a simple answer to it is no but instead their condition kept falling.

In this 21 century too, the rich got richer, poor got poorer and this is as it continues to grow. Labor is said to be an important part of society, but unfortunately society never adopted this part.

Role of Society

Society always kept laboring class in check. It seems that society sees its benefit in this, but is this benefit not taken away anyone's rights. Is it only fair to hold the government responsible for such condition of laborers? Do we not have any moral responsibility towards society?

We were safe in our own homes in this lock-down and got lost in Jio's cheap net. When an actor dies, the whole of India cries and the same poor who die in lock-down on the way back to the house or die in a road accident unfortunately we pay no heed.

We always blame the government and escape the liability because we are safe and we are getting good food for two times. If we continue to trust the governments and keep blaming it, that won’t make us Innocent as a lamb.

And the most accurate example of this is the migration of migrant laborers.

This not only exposes the failure of the government but also the failure of a society. In today's time, if a person donates he takes bunch of selfies, because donation is not just for the sake of cleanliness but for show off. Remember Lord Krishna said once even if good deeds are done only to show off, it will only lead you to your downfall.

Well let's talk now on India's nationwide lock-down amid the Corona virus pandemic of the corona virus has caused a serious chaos in the lives of its migration population.

Control Damage Action of Government

However, despite the government's $22.4 billion stimulus package, the lock-down is a serious crisis for India's migrant laborers. Which are part of the estimated 653. 4 million of India's official migrants who suffer the most.

With their daily wages drying up, most of them can barely afford rent or food in Cities. And likewise, they are left with very less options to try to go their home in any way. Millions of migrant laborers from many states are forced to walk hundreds of kilometers on foot. They have neither food facilities nor enough water to travel.

While the pandemic is undoubtedly creating an unprecedented livelihood disorder. Hungry, thirsty and tired of walking for long distances poor migrant laborers of India are coming back to the villages. As India has extended COVID-19 lock-down till 31 May, some of the same people have started trending #migrantlivesmatter on social media.

So that a large-scale humanitarian crisis in the country can be discussed. And the sad thing is that many migrant laborers from many states are also reported to have died due to the accident. Since the lock-down started, Approximately more than 150 migrant laborers have died due to the accident.

After the news of these deaths spread, the government has woken up and now they are trying to sending these migrant laborers home. Cabinet Secretary Mr. Rajiv Gauba has reviewed all the states and union territories to review buses and labor-specific trains for migrants. Of detailed guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry to ensure shelter and food security of migrant workers by writing to have asked for effective compliance.

The circular urges the states to direct all the district magistrates to review the situation immediately. They should also ensure that a senior officer is in charge of each relief camp. According to the statement, 'They can also seek the support of a network of civic social organizations and mid-day meal centers to provide food to all migrant workers and stranded people during lock-down.

Now new Question arises

It is to be seen now how much the migrant laborers benefit from this move of the government and the question does not end here, now a new question arises that the corona virus should not spread in the villages after the workers go to their home. If this pandemic spreads in the villages then it will create an even bigger crisis.

If we talk about the city itself, then we are struggling with lack of health facilities and if this pandemic reaches the villages in this situation then it will be more difficult for us to fight it. We don't have enough facilities to All we can hope for is to overcome this pandemic as soon as possible and get normal life back on track.