Migrant labourers refuse ration by administration, say have enough for survival

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 2

“We have enough for our survival, please give ration to those who are indeed starving,” is the reaction of ‘poor-looking’ migrant labourers to the officials of Ahmedgarh police, who had visited the dwellings of labourers to give them ration.

These migrants are among many of the self-reliant workers who have decided not to join other migrant labourers in their journey to return to their native places in the wake of the lockdown, and are thankful to their employers for taking care of their needs during the crisis.

Sadar SHO Sanjiv Kapoor and Ahmedgarh SHO Amandeep Kaur said they were moved when a group of migrant labourers, staying at a closed dairy on Dehliz Road, politely refused the ration, which included flour, pulses and sugar, offered to them and asked us to give it to the people who needed it more.

“Advised by our circle officer Karanveer Singh, we were distributing ration among the needy in the area. When we to visited a group of migrant labourers staying at a closed dairy to provide them with essentials, they politely declined our offer and affirmed that their employer had arranged for all facilities,” said Sanjiv Kapoor.

A migrant labourer from Faizabad, Jang Bahadur, regretted that there were some migrant labourers who were hoarding ration from the administration and social organisations only to carry it back to their native states. “Why should we think of leaving our employers when they have been providing us enough to look after our families,” said Bahadur.

Shiv Charan, another migrant labourer employed at Lakshami Cattle Feed, Jagera Road, was also among those who had returned ration, milk and vegetable to groups of social workers during the past few days. “We don’t mind people and officials coming to us for extending help, but why should we hoard unnecessarily when our employers have arranged enough for us,” he said.