KATHMANDU: Hundreds of Nepali workers-carrying bags, water bottles, and toddlers on their back, walking along the Mumbai-Agra national highway from Bhiwadi to thousands of miles away to their homes Nepal.
Some are on foot and others on the bicycle. The sight has become common, even constant of the road which passes through Bhiwandi and Kalyan bypass going towards Nashik and further leads to Uttar Pradesh, India Today reported.
These are the people formerly employed by loom mills in Maharashtra’s Bhiwadi.
Even in normal circumstances, circumstances and low wages force eight to 10 workers to stay in a room barely eight feet wide and eight feet long.
With no work and their salaries unpaid, they fear they will starve to death if they don’t reach their homes.
Halburam, who is walking on foot said “We have not been getting salaries. Initially, we received a little ration but now that is also is not available anymore.”
“I have been staying in Bhiwandi for several years, but since the lockdown, the situation is completely different and scary. In the beginning, we were able to borrow on credit from local Kirana stores but now the store owners have started asking for money. We now have no other option than to leave as, if we stay, we will not survive,” he said.
Halburam prays to God for strength to get him across the India Nepal border to his native village, which is about 1700 kilometers. “I will see if we get any means of transport then it will be helpful, but if not, I will try keep moving towards my home on foot,” he said.
The condition of loom workers including Nepalis bear hardships that they had been facing since the lockdown. Some relief was provided in terms of ration and food by the local administration after that but now since the lockdown extension, the condition has deteriorated.
Ghanshyam Prajapati, who is part of the group resting on the roadside trying to catch his breath, wondered how did the authorities expect them to stay put and survive on 2 kgs of rice among eight people.
“The loom owners refused to pay pending salaries and landlords kept pressurizing them to pay rent. They were forced to move out and start walking towards our native places,” he said.
(with inputs from Agencies)
Comment