Chandigarh, May 24 – Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Government daily runs Special Shramik Trains from the various railway stations of the state to help migrant labourers return to their home states. In the same series five Special Shramik Trains departed from Haryana today. He informed that migrant labourers have played a significant role in the growth and development of Haryana.
He said that today about 3200 migrant labourers have been sent from Bhiwani to Katihar and Araria (Bihar) in two trains and similarly, three trains departed from Yamumanagar carrying 4600 migrant labourers to Barauni, Muzaffarpur and Katihar (Bihar).
He said that despite diversity, the people of India are united and with this sentiment and thought Haryana Government has started sending labourers stranded in lockdown and labourers who were willing to return to their home states free of cost. The Chief Minister said that all Indians living in any part of the country are one and it is the joint responsibility of all to alleviate their sufferings, he added.
Two Special Shramik Trains depart from Bhiwani for Katihar and Araria (Bihar)
3200 migrant labourers left for Bihar from Bhiwani. A Special Shramik Train left from Bhiwani for Araria at four o'clock and Katihar at five o'clock with 1600 migrant labourers each. Special Shramik Train number 04891 left for Araria from Bhiwani railway station. 1360 migrant labourers from Bhiwani, 141 from Narnaul and 99 labourers from Dadri boarded the train. Similarly, train number 04893 left from Bhiwani for Katihar, with 1300 migrant labourers from Fatehabad and 300 migrant laborers from Hisar district. There were 22 children on this train as well.
Three Special Shramik Trains depart from Yamunanagar to Barauni, Muzaffarpur and Katihar (Bihar)
Today about 4600 migrant labourers have been sent from Yamunanagar to their home state Bihar through three Special Shramik Trains. The first Special Shramik Trains from Jagadhri-Yamunanagar railway station left for Barauni (Bihar) carrying about 1550 migrant labourers.
Haryana Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal who was present on this occasion along with other dignitaries said that this train will go from here directly to Barauni (Bihar) and will not halt anywhere on the way. He appealed to the migrant labourers to remain in the shelter homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said that most of the migrant labourers who are being sent by train came here from Punjab on foot or on bicycles and the State Government provided all facilities to them in the shelter homes and now they are returning to their home states.
After this, two Special Shramik Trains departed for Muzaffarpur and Katihar (Bihar) from Yamunanagar today. Migrant labourers from 10 to 12 districts of Bihar state have been sent to their home state in these trains. The first Special Shramik Trains left for Barauni (Bihar) from Yamunanagar-Jagadhri railway station at 12.15 pm while the second Special Shramik Trains left for Muzaffarpur (Bihar) at 4.20 pm and the third Special Shramik Trains departed for Katihar (Bihar) after 6.00 pm today. Migrant labourers from Katihar, Barauni, Muzaffarpur, Madhepura, Champaran, Motihari, Nawada, Mahuva, Sipol, Munger, Saharsa, Bettiah and other districts in Bihar have returned to their homes on these Special Shramik Trains.
Facilities provided to labourers
Migrant labourers were brought from the shelter home to the railway station by roadways buses. All necessary arrangements were made much before the migrant labourers were sent to their home state. The railway platform was cleaned with a vacuum cleaner frequently. Besides sanitizing the hands of the migrant labourers, arrangements were also provided them with food and drinking water. These migrant labourers were given free train tickets and other facilities so that they do not face any problem on the way to their homes. Social distancing norms were adhered for the sitting arrangement of migrant labourers in the train.
Responsibility of the family brought them here and now they are returning for the family
While boarding the Special Shramik Trains from Bhiwani, the migrant labourers said that if there was no special train facility, they would not be able to go to their homes. They all said that they were returning to their home states for the sake of their families. Panveshwar Das, a migrant labourer from Narnaul who boarded the train for Araria, said that he used to work as a painter here, but his work stopped completely due to the lockdown. In such a situation, he had to return home.
Migrant labourer, Dalip Kumar, who arrived from Narnaul, said that he used to work as a labourer here but he is returning home because his family was constantly calling him to return. He said that he will return for work again as there is a lot of work here. However, he had to face difficulties due to the lockdown. Similarly, Manoj, a resident of Purnia district, said that he had come here to harvest mustard and is returning home to work on harvesting of maize over there. Responsibility of the family brought them here and now they are returning for the family.
Similarly, Chandniram, Lakhichand and Vikram, who arrived from Fatehabad to board the train to Katihar, said that they used to harvest wheat here. They said that they got a lot of work here, and had it not been for the lockdown they would have not returned to their home states. They are bound by the responsibility towards their families, they added.