Chandigarh, May 26 - Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal said that workers have made a significant contribution in the progress and development of the Haryana. He informed that due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, State Government is running ‘Special Shramik trains’ on a daily basis from various railway stations of the state to send workers willing to return to their home states. Similarly, workers of the neighboring states of Haryana are also being sent to their home states through buses.

He informed that till date 2.90 lakh workers have been sent from Haryana to their home states through 77 ‘Special Shramik trains’ and 5500 buses. In addition, a total of 11,656 workers have returned to Haryana from various states. He said that Haryana Government while empathizing with the difficulties faced by these workers, has made adequate arrangements to send them free of cost to their home states. Today more than 10,900 workers from Hisar, Kalka, Ambala, Panipat, Gurugram, Rewari and Faridabad departed by seven ‘Special Shramik trains’ to their home states in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Today 1600 workers from Hisar were sent to Bhagalpur (Bihar), 1367 workers from Kalka to Darbhanga (Bihar), 1600 workers from Ambala to Araria (Bihar), 1600 workers from Panipat to Barauni (Bihar), 1600 workers from Gurugram to Jahanabad (Bihar), 1,600 workers from Rewari to Katihar (Bihar) and 1602 from Faridabad have been sent to Ranchi (Jharkhand).

Train departs from Hisar to Bhagalpur (Bihar)

‘Special Shramik train’ (number 04839), with 1600 workers departed from Hisar railway station for Bhagalpur in Bihar at 12 noon today. Workers from seven districts including 152 of Hisar, 500 of Jhajjar, 498 of Fatehabad, 150 of Sirsa, 100 workers each from Kurukshetra, Narnaul, and Kaithal departed on the train. Women and children were also on the train.

Train from Kalka to Darbhanga (Bihar)

Today as many as 1367 workers departed from Kalka railway station for Darbhanga in Bihar. The workers from various areas in the district were taken in buses to Kalka railway station to further send them to their respective destinations. After this, they were sent to Darbhanga by train. Workers hailing from Chhapra, Motihari, Gopalganj, Madhuvani, Supaul, Siwan, Araria, Purnia, Saharsa, Khagaria, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Patna etc. have been sent by train. The workers were accompanied by their children.

Train from Ambala to Araria (Bihar)

Today as many as 1600 workers left for Araria via special train from Ambala Cantonment railway station. Workers from Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal district were brought to Ambala Cantonment railway station today through buses and 1600 workers were sent to Bihar (Araria) through ‘Special Shramik train’(number 4570) with complete arrangements. This train will cover the districts of Purnia, Katihar, Madhepura, Supol, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Patna and Siwan of Bihar. Among the workers who were sent to their home states today, 1366 were from Ambala, 39 from Kurukshetra and 195 from Kaithal, including eight children.

Train from Panipat to Barauni (Bihar)

As many as 1600 workers were sent from Panipat Junction to Barauni (Bihar). Of these, 300 workers were brought from Sonipat and 200 workers from Kurukshetra via Haryana Roadways buses and 1100 workers have been sent from Panipat to Bihar. This train will go to Barauni via Darbhanga, Begusarai, Purnia, Katihar, Gaya, Madhubani etc.

Train from Gurugram to Jehanabad (Bihar)

Today a ‘Special Shramik train’ departed from the railway station of Gurugram to Jehanabad in Bihar carrying 1600 workers. These workers were brought to the railways station from shelter home in Roadways buses. Health check-ups of all the workers were conducted at the railway station and their hands were sanitized and food and water also provided to them.

Train from Rewari to Katihar (Bihar)

Today, ‘Special Shramik train’ with 1600 agricultural workers left from platform number one of Rewari railway station for Katihar. After the harvesting of mustard and wheat in the district, stranded agricultural workers, were sent to Katihar in Bihar at 3 pm.

Train from Faridabad to Ranchi (Jharkhand)

Today 1602 workers from Faridabad were sent through a Special Shramik Train to Ranchi (Jharkhand). These passengers included 555 workers from Faridabad, 400 workers from Gurugram, 200 workers from Jhajjar, 200 workers from Bhiwani, 125 workers from Sirsa, 25 workers from Dadri., 40 workers from Nuh, 45 workers from Kaithal and 10 workers from Rewari. All these workers are from different regions of Jharkhand.

-Two-year-old Roshan Lal's birthday celebrated at the railway station--

Two-year-old Roshan Lal, who was going to travel with his parents to Gaya in Bihar on a train from Gurugram celebrated his birthday at the railway station today. The child cut his birthday cake in the presence of ADGP, CID, Mr. Anil Rao. On this occasion, toys were distributed to all the children travelling in the train, while other needy people were given a pair of slippers.

- ADGP CID Mr. Anil Rao took stock of the arrangements at Gurugram railway station

ADGP, CID, Mr. Anil Rao, the Nodal Officer appointed to send the workers to their home states safely, arrived at the Gurugram railway station to take stock of the arrangements at the Gurugram railway station and to see how health checkups and thermal screening was being conducted before the workers boarded the trains and that they were not facing any kind of difficulty. He witnessed the entire process and also interacted with the officers of the Railway Ministry. Mr. Anil Rao also interacted with some passengers and asked whether they had faced any inconvenience while travelling from their place of stay to the railway station. The passengers appreciated the arrangement made by the Haryana Government and informed that they were given free tickets, food, water etc. before boarding the train, which they did not even expect.

Facilities provided to passengers

Workers were brought from the shelter home to the railway station by roadways buses. All necessary arrangements were made much before the workers were sent to their home state. The railway platform was cleaned with a vacuum cleaner frequently. Besides sanitizing the hands of the workers, they were also provided with food and drinking water. These workers 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 to for the sitting arrangement of workers in the train.

Thanking the Haryana Government in this hour of crisis-

Workers Kishan Paswan, Ram Gopal Yadav, Rohtash, and Abhishek Yadav who went to their home state from Ambala railway station said that they are very happy today that they are returning to their homes safely. They said that they are very grateful to the Haryana Government for helping them return to their home states free of cost with complete arrangements. Lakhidas, Munni Devi, and Chirag said that they were grateful to the State Government for providing them with food packets, masks, bottles of water and biscuits and toys to children for their journey. They said that they will also inform others about the work being done by the Haryana Government for helping them return to their home states in this hour of crisis The State Government has set a unique example by sending them home safely.

- The workers praised the Haryana government-

The workers at Rewari railway station, while waiting to get on their free ride home, praised the Haryana Government for sending them to their home states and said that in this hour of crisis they have been provided with free of cost tickets, stay at the shelter homes, free medical investigations, food and water and that they have been brought to the railway station on buses. They did not have to pay even one rupee. All this has been possible due to the efforts of Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal.

Travelling from Panipat to Saharsa, Birju, who worked as a mason in Panipat, said that he has not been able to visit his home for the last nine months is extremely happy to return home. Vinod Yadav, who went to Araria, also thanked the Government as well as the district administration and all the institutions and said that excellent arrangements for food, water, masks etc. were made. Vijay Kumar, who went to Barauni, also thanked the Haryana Government for making free arrangements to go home.

- Haryana is full of care and concern

Workers going to their home states on the Special Shramik Trains said that the love and affection they received in Haryana is not found anywhere else. They said that they visit Haryana during the harvesting season but this time they were stranded in the lockdown due to COVID-19. They thanked the Haryana Government for all the arrangements made for them during this hour of crisis.