Migrants and other Indians The lock down was done in great haste. If at least 3 days were given prior to lock down the great exodus would have been different .It was wrongly presumed that everyone will stay put where ever they are .Unemployment, no hope of resumption of activities. Lack of facilities like food, shelter etc accentuated the situation. It was clear that they wanted badly to exercise their freedom, whether here was work or not at the other hand The desperate migrants wanted to leave by all means . The Govt was caught with pants down .Hundreds of migrants with women ,children started journey on foot ,tracking 450./750 kms in sweltering summer heat. The casualty figures are not known. The tragedy at Aurangabad rail tracks has added fuel to fire .State Govt, took a non-committal stand at first and then provided some relief by road and now subsidized rail fare .The impact of exodus on daily life, industry, agriculture, casual, manual labour skilled and unskilled will have devastating consequences on the economy
A two distinct classes of Indians have risen on social horizon of Indian society that has now become more prominent .Migrants, underprivileged, faceless Indians, whom their states and central Govt, disown and treats them shabbily. Their repatriation home is blocked on health and financial grounds and logistics of numbers stretching health provisions. Their pitiable life threatening journeys are of no concerns On the other hands thousands of Indians stranded abroad due to various reasons, find an easy echo in the corridors of power. Govt strapped of finances finds this as viable economic activity .The reason that they will pay for services is plausible consideration .They are welcome with open arms making tedious arrangements for their quarantine too. The citizens of India are now visibly stratified into two classes of citizens This attitude is repugnant to the principle of equality in a democratic social Indian republic The states like Bihar, Up Rajasthan, Orissa Karanataka among others must spread out development to retain their citizens near at home with gainful employment and sustainable development Too long they have ignored the masses and feathered their own political nest of self prosperity Remember that during gulf war 1, 70000 Indians were repatriated and present crisis is far from that nuber Nelson Lopes Chinchinim