Feed the Migrant Labourers Who’re Returning Home on Foot

As reported by the Indian Labour Organization, India has more than 190 million workers in the unorganized sector. Most of them have migrated from far off states.

The lockdown was announced overnight and was implemented within four hours. It didn’t just change our lives but has pushed a quarter of the largest democracy into poverty. Roughly, half of the labourers in the unorganized sector are migrant labourers who’ve come from far off states to make a living. The migrant labourers who came to the city in search of a better life were out of their jobs overnight. 

Families living in a small room with an asbestos roof over their heads were kicked out for not paying the rent. Labourers who built our city, houses, schools, and helped us every day are now battling for a plate of food. 

With no work, no food and no way to survive, they decided to go back home. However, with no transport, lakhs of migrant workers embarked on a horrifying journey to their homes on foot. 

“No food and no work. Imagine how hard it must be for us to go home. Bihar is not right next door” says Kumar.

Kumar is a construction worker from Bihar. Today, he’s cycling back to his home in Bihar with his wife and two children. It’s a staggering 980 km ride in the scorching sun. He’s not alone. 

It can be extremely difficult to send such a large section of workers back using public transport. These workers have been thrown out of their homes and say that if they go home, at least they can be with their families. 

"We have no food, no work and no help. we cannot wait as it's hard to survive.”, said Mohan, a migrant worker. 

Mohan is another labourer in the never-ending stream of famished and exhausted migrants. The labourers marching along with families and their children walking home in the summer heat has become a common sight across India since the government imposed a lockdown. 

Special trains were announced to bring these labourers home, however, there are many who can hardly afford a biscuit packet for their children. How can they afford to go home? 

“Humare bachon ka khane ke liye 10 rupiya nahi hai. Train ke liye 3000-3500 kaha se laye?(We don’t have 10rs to feed our children. How can we get Rs. 3000 for a train?) ,” 33-year-old Deepak Pandey says. 

This situation will only worsen from here as the lockdown is still being extended. With the uncertainty increasing amid these tough times, they had no other choice but to make their way back to their homes. The sprawling highways are filled with migrant labourers walking, taking a ride on a truck, using a rickshaw and in one case, a child was seen being dragged on a suitcase.

Broken dreams, torn slippers, scorching heat - they march their way back home with the little they own. Children clinging to their mothers, a blanket filled with clothes and empty stomachs. This is the situation these workers are in. 

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, while we try to adjust with the new normal, the migrant labourers are fighting to live another day. 

They’ve been starving for days at a stretch. What you donate now, could be their only meal in days. 

Today, they need your help to survive this crisis. Donate food, save lives! 

Beneficiary NGOs:

1. Voice of Slum - Voice of Slum is an NGO based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Its mission is to assimilate street children into mainstream society by providing them with quality education,  exposure and access to opportunities. The NGO is run by those born in slums, who have been through it all. They now want to help other slum kids have a better life.

2. Making The Difference, Mumbai - Making The Difference (MTD), established in 2014, found by Mr. Meet Vishwakarma is a NGO formed with an aim to serve the needy & under privileged and specially children. The primary focus of MTD has been towards Child Development. This institution is to construct better future for the young unprivileged children. We are proud to say that, we do not make any commercial use of any contributions by the individuals and there is no income generating activity. It involves genuine practice to upgrade these underprivileged children. Thus we are totally dependent on contributions and donations in any form, cash and kind.

3. Humanity First Foundation - Humanity First Foundation was founded by Mohammed Shujatullah. They serve nearly 1000+ needy people "Free healthy breakfast" which is Upma made in pure ghee and served with chutney at 3 government hospitals every day. It was started in 2016 and is based out of Hyderabad. Their mission is to eradicate hunger regardless of caste or creed. They also serve orphanages in addition to the hospitals.

Note: Donations towards this fundraiser are not eligible for any tax deduction such as 80G, 501(c) etc.