CORONA VIRUS AND THE MIGRANT WORKERS

IMAGE SOURCE :  THE ECONOMIC TIMES 

It's heart-wrenching to see migrant’s laborers moving towards their villages their kids walking on scorching roads for never ending miles. Are we not ashamed of it? After all who are they? Are they not human beings? Are they not the ones who made our lives comfortable? Is it not reminding us the laborers who made Taj Mahal and later on were maimed by the emperor as he did not want another replica to be made elsewhere.

Who should be responsible for the plight of our migrant laborers? I think this is high time when we should put on our thinking caps and plan a better life for them, so that they can face such challenges in future in more dignified ways.

This is the time when the civil society should come forward and form a co-operative which should do work for them only, after all when we can launch One Nation and One Ration Card why they are prevented from the benefits in States other than where they made the Ration Card? At the time of financial crisis why these type of rules which restrict entry of one individual to another State. Do they not belong to a Nation called India? This is the time of financial crisis and rules can be very easily amended keeping in mind the need of the times and convenience of the laborers so that they can avail the facilities wherever they may move in search of livelihood. 

Most of the labourers stay in slum areas as they are more affordable and it is difficult for them to maintain social distancing. A perfect example is of Dharavi, Mumbai. Families of five or six were living in a small area, how the concept of social distancing could be applied there? How could we except people for whom earning daily wage is of paramount importance for getting food everyday to practice social-distancing, washing hands or using sanitizers? For people who face water scarcity even for their basic needs can we imagine the luxury of washing their hands every now and then?

 IMAGE SOURCE : THE ECONOMIC TIMES 

No doubt Government is doing their best efforts to make the people of India aware about the dangers of the disease for stopping the spread of the disease. These measures are taken through electronic, print media, social media, etc. all the prominent people from every field whether it is sports person or movie stars, singers, artists are through TV channels advertising day and night about the measures required to be taken for Covid- 19.

All the NGO's, Religious groups, Social workers are doing their best to provide food but this is not enough, now the need of the hour is that we should make efforts to build a structure for the poor people, particularly the migrant laborers so that in future if our Country has to face this type of a crisis, a better management strategy could be in place. After all they are the one who come out of their houses to vote in maximum numbers and give chance to Political Parties to form the Government.

Is the importance of their life is for one vote only? All the efforts should be put together to make the entire public aware of their responsibilities and duties. I conclude by saying as we stay home in comfort during the Corona Virus lockdown, it's time we spare a thought about how we can make a better India for our laborers and give them dignity to live and this should be the prime duty of those who are leading a life blessed by God. We can do it with a strong will and show it to the world what a determination Nation can do under such trying times. As Gandhiji used to say "When you plan something you should look at the poorest people" if we follow this, then certainly the life of the laborers in our Country will change.