Migrant workers, the power in the engine of socioeconomic change, have been worst hit in this extended lockdown. The dirty politics around these migrants have left us appaled, rues Dr Navodita. An exclusive for Different Truths.  

Two days after accusing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of doing politics, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath agreed to her request to run 1,000 buses for migrant workers desperate to go home in the Coronavirus lockdown. The UP government wrote to the Congress leader’s office asking for details of the buses, their numbers and drivers names.

Priyanka Gandhi, a Congress general secretary, had appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on May 16, in a video message on the same day Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attacked her brother Rahul Gandhi for what she called dramabaazi after he interacted with migrants resting under a flyover in Delhi.

Priyanka Gandhi, a Congress general secretary, had appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on May 16, in a video message on the same day Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attacked her brother Rahul Gandhi for what she called dramabaazi after he interacted with migrants resting under a flyover in Delhi.

A day before Priyanka Gandhi’s appeal, 24 migrant workers were killed when a trailer rammed a stationary truck — both had migrants — on a highway, near Auraiya, in Uttar Pradesh.

“Respected chief minister, I am requesting you, this is not the time for politics. Our buses are standing at the border. Thousands of labourers and migrants are walking towards their homes without food or water and after fighting all troubles. Let us help them. Give permission to our buses,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

In another tweet, she said, “Our buses are standing at the border. Thousands of nation-builders workers and migrants are walking in the sun. Give permission Yogi Adityanath ji. Let us help our brothers and sisters.”

She also put out a video of empty buses waiting at the Uttar Pradesh border; she had asked the Congress to arrange the buses without waiting for UP’s response to her appeal.

She also put out a video of empty buses waiting at the Uttar Pradesh border; she had asked the Congress to arrange the buses without waiting for UP’s response to her appeal.

Rajasthan claimed the buses were not allowed to enter by the UP government.

Vishvendra Singh, Rajasthan Minister for Tourism, said the buses were stopped, in Rajasthan, close to the border with UP.

On Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had taunted the Congress saying Priyanka Gandhi should ask Congress-ruled states to run more buses as those states had asked for fewer trains for the migrants.

“UP Government is competent and working efficiently for providing a safe and secure journey to migrants. We have provided 200 buses to every district to facilitate the journey of migrants. Four hundred trains have been sanctioned by railway ministry for UP. Priyanka Gandhi should deploy the said 1,000 buses in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Jharkhand as these states asked for fewer trains,” Dinesh Sharma told the news agency ANI.

As migrant workers continue to walk or pedal their way into the state, CM Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, directed officials to ensure they are provided shaded shelter, food and drinking water at toll plazas on national highways.

As migrant workers continue to walk or pedal their way into the state, CM Yogi

Adityanath, on Monday, directed officials to ensure they are provided shaded shelter, food and drinking water at toll plazas on national highways.

The government has also increased deployment of buses at the borders and instructed police and district administration to ensure nobody walks or uses bicycles or other means of unauthorised transport to travel within the state.

Additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Awasthy said, “A bottle of water will be given to every person at the state border as a mark of respectful welcome. The CM has insisted on intensive patrolling of all national and state highways, expressways and crossroads, especially during the night, to stop anyone travelling in an unauthorised manner and ensure they are taken to quarantine shelters for testing and then sent home by bus.”

The CM said pulse oximeters should be used at the district level to ascertain the level of oxygen in a person’s body, which will indicate the primary level of Coronavirus infection. Oximeters will be made available to ASHA workers, ANMs and field employees as they are part of rural surveillance teams

The CM said pulse oximeters should be used at the district level to ascertain the level of oxygen in a person’s body, which will indicate the primary level of Coronavirus infection. Oximeters will be made available to ASHA workers, ANMs and field employees as they are part of rural surveillance teams keeping a check on returning migrants.

In the last 8-10 days, 590 trains have brought over 7.6 lakh migrants back to the state. In view of a high number of workers returning to the state, the health department has bolstered its capacity to conduct tests for coronavirus infection.

Although reports indicate that about 22.2% of symptomatic migrant workers have tested positive in Uttar Pradesh. This was confirmed by principal secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad.

Prasad urged migrant workers to strictly follow norms of home quarantine in the larger interest of their family members. Migrants formed a major chunk of new cases reported two days ago. Senior government officials, preferring anonymity, revealed that 70% of the new cases in the state were migrants.

Migrants formed a major chunk of new cases reported two days ago. Senior government officials, preferring anonymity, revealed that 70% of the new cases in the state were migrants.

Health officials have, however, pinned their hopes on the screening and monitoring activities of the migrant workers. The principal secretary said that anticipating a

migrant surge as coronavirus cases in the state, the health department had rolled out a two-layer screening plan.

He said surveillance activities have intensified in the state. There was no dearth of medicines and equipment needed for COVID-19 management. “We are in a comfortable position as far as health infrastructure and medicines are concerned,” he said.

However, it is sad, that a large number of migrants are losing their lives in road-related accidents. Home-bound migrant workers lost their lives in 37% of the total road traffic accidents (RTA) that took place during the period of lockdown (March 24-May 18).

This assessment, undertaken by Road Safety Network, a national coalition of organisations promoting safe roads, also showed that 7% of the accident victims were Corona warriors deputed on COVID-19 duties.

The researchers noted that a total of 1, 236 crashes took place during the lockdown. The incidents led to 423 deaths and 833 injuries. Of these, 158 deceased and 607 injured were migrant workers. Accidents in Uttar Pradesh also took lives of 29 essential workers and 26 injured.

The researchers noted that a total of 1, 236 crashes took place during the lockdown. The incidents led to 423 deaths and 833 injuries. Of these, 158 deceased and 607 injured were migrant workers. Accidents in Uttar Pradesh also took lives of 29 essential workers and 26 injured. The remaining 236 deaths and 200 injured were placed in the ‘others’ category.

Mahatma Gandhi had said, “Poverty is the worst form of violence.” This seems to be coming true today when migrant workers are struggling with their issues of sustenance and survival. Does the government need to play politics or provide genuine aid to those hit by lockdown and Coronavirus?

Photo from the Internet