Babu Khan
Srinagar : The migrant labourers continue to remain stranded in Kashmir as authorities are not making any efforts for their evacuation.
On April 29, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that it has issued an order to state and Union Territories to facilitate inter-state movement of stranded people including migrant labourers in the country.
Since then states have started evacuation of labourers in various parts of the country. However, the non-local labourers stranded in Kashmir said they have been left at the mercy of God.
Shahid Ahmad, 25, a resident of Sapual district of Bihar is stranded at Sopore Degree College along with 300 other co-workers.
“There is no hygiene here. Non-local labourers are not safe of coronavirus here as we are not maintaining distance from others. We are running out of money and all the stock we had brought have exhausted,” he told news agency KINS.
Shahid, a mason by profession has been working in Kashmir for last three years. Last year in August before abrogation of Article 370 he had to leave suddenly Kashmir and came recently for the work.
He has appealed the government to make arrangements to evacuate them to Bihar in view shortage of food and uncertainty about the future.
Similarly, Mohammad Hyder Ali from Marwa Westbengal arrived Kashmir in the first week of March.
“We have been left at the mercy of God. Nobody is approaching us. Why are we not being evacuated like other labourers in rest of the country,” he asked.
He has been lodged at a government accommodation at Lassipora Pulwama. He has been coming to Kashmir in the last six-years. Last year in August before abrogation of Article 370 he had to leave suddenly Kashmir and came back in first week of March.
Another labourer Suresh Kumar of West Bengal who too is stuck in south Kashmir said government has asked non-local labourers to make online registration on Labour Department website who want to go to their respective states.
“Nobody approached us. Nobody is concerned about us. We are running short of money. Even internet is not working then how can we make online registrations,” he said.
As per the MHA notification, the states and Union Territories should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving an sending such stranded persons. The nodal authorities shall also register the stranded persons within their states and UTs. “But we don’t know whom should we contact neither anyone has asked us for any details,” they said.
An official at Divisional Commissioner Kashmir office said few districts have started a process for registering non-local labourers for evacuation.
“Some migrant labourers have resumed their work in Kashmir. Those who want to move back to their states should apply online on the Labour Department’s website. Registration process will take some time then only evacuation will be started,” he added.
The migrant labourers are estimated to make up 80% of the Valley’s construction workforce.(KINS)
