Getting Home, Somehow

Getting Home, Somehow

On Friday evening, a truck packed with 70 migrant workers reached Patna. The workers had walked 70 kms & then hired a truck @ Rs 3500 per head — Delhi to Bihar and onwards to Jharkhand. This was their life savings, atleast definitely all what they had on them. The truck will only take them upto Munger, then the remaining 47 will have to find another means to go to Godda.    

OIN’s Pathik Project is giving food and hygiene kits to migrants walking back home. But when the Bihar team received a call, all that the migrants wanted was some food. Chandan, Neha, and Devanand from our Patna office made sure that 70 food packets and water bottles were arranged from a nearby hotel and rushed to Anisabad in Patna.

The truck left with the migrants. In the meantime, we contacted Jharkhand government, which has initiated Jharkhand Collab Facility (of which OIN is a part of) to track migrant workers and support them to get back home safe. Last evening when they left, we knew that Collab was in touch with the workers and was arranging for their shelter and transportation after Munger.

During a brief chat before they left for their onward journey, they shared their worries about what awaits them at home — no work, no money, quarantine. This morning as we woke up to the news of 23 workers dying in a road accident in Auraiya in UP, the only thing that comes to mind then is that these 70 and millions like them reach home safe.

PS: Last information our Bihar office received was that the migrant workers had persuaded the truck driver to drop them to Bhagalpur — the district neighbouring Godda.

 

📢Oxfam India is now on Telegram. Click here to join our Telegram channel and stay updated with  latest updates and insights on the social and development issues.


India Discrimination Report

Read More

Related Stories

Women Livelihood

02 Mar, 2023

S 24 Parganas, West Bengal

Sonali Neye: Public Heath Champion

Sonali Neye is our public health champion from Bipradaspur village in Gosaba block in South 24 Parganas.

Read More

Women Livelihood

27 Feb, 2023

Kalahandi, Odisha

From Resource Centre To A Business Hub

What started as a Resource Centre for information dissemination in Manikera village in Kalahandi has now become a business hub!

Read More

Women Livelihood

27 Feb, 2023

Koraput, Odisha

Adi Burudi: A President, Farmer and An Inspiration

Once a mono cropper and earning about Rs 20000 annually until a year ago, Adi Burudi now has expanded her scope and avenues of farming and making profits of nearly Rs 35000.

Read More

Women Livelihood

22 Feb, 2023

Sitamarhi, Bihar

Cash Nudge for Divya Devi

It wasn't always easy for Divya Devi and Kamod to provide for their family.

Read More