Shramik Special trains remain elusive for State’s guest workers

Chennai

While the State government had claimed that at least 10,000 migrants will be sent home every day on special trains, many migrant workers have been waiting for more than a month to get a confirmation on their booking. P Poonam, a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh, said they had registered for the special trains about a month ago but are yet to get any confirmation from the government authorities.

“We have been stuck here for more than a month without money. Our native is 2,000 km away and we cannot take a private vehicle. We have registered and are cooperating with the authorities, but are yet to get a response on our plea to take us home,” said Poonam.

As many migrants stand in queues near Government Siddha Hospital in Arumbakkam to be accommodated on special trains, many of them said they have completed the online registration long ago, but haven’t received any confirmation on when they can go back home.

Another migrant worker from Bihar, Raghu Kumar said he had registered for special trains on April 4 but has not received any response. “I don’t have money for even food. Two of my friends have somehow managed to leave and now I am left alone to struggle,” said Raghu.

“We cannot walk as we will be stopped at the check posts and maybe dumped in some shelter. I have an eight-year-old child also. I don’t know what to do,” said Bablu, another guest worker from Uttar Pradesh.

Responding to the same, Tamil Nadu Revenue Secretary and designated officer to oversee the return of migrants, Atulya Mishra, said about 2.75 lakh migrants have been sent back home in about 170 trains so far.

“The special trains are running every day. We are giving preference to the migrants who are in shelter homes or relief camps. The migrants in households who have registered are also being considered and will be sent back in order. We have to get confirmation from the respective State government as they have to make arrangements. As soon as we receive confirmation, we will send them back,” said Atulya Mishra adding that trains are plying from Chennai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Madurai and other stations.