Pune: Migrant workers return with business reopening post-COVID lockdown

Pune: Pune has developed at a rapid speed resulting in the creation of jobs and opportunities for many people. Pune has a huge number of migrant workers, working in different belts such as construction, hotels and other commercial establishments.

As soon as the novel coronavirus cases started rising in the city in March, several migrant labourers marched their way to their hometowns; the reverse migration continued as Shramik Trains were introduced from May onwards. Now, these labourers are returning to the city amid the cases are witnessing a huge surge. As the businesses are reopening post-COVID-19 lockdown, migrant workers are returning from their natives.
 
More than 8,000 labourers returned to Pune in past few days, and the labour department is keeping a close eye on the movement of migrant workers who are returning to the city, District Collector Naval Kishore Ram stated.
 
Ram stated following the recommencement of train services recently on some key routes; total 144 trains crossed the Pune railway station and nearly 23,000 passengers deboarded here.
 
"Of the 23,000 passengers who deboarded at the Pune station, over 8,900 were identified as labourers from different states. Even if the numbers are not that big, the labour department is keeping a close watch on the movement of migrant labourers who are returning to the city," he added.
 
A migrant worker who hails from Pali district in Rajasthan on returning to Pune on the condition of anonymity said, "I went back to my native during the lockdown, but now it is difficult to survive as I have to look after my family. Thus, I have returned to the city in search of a new job as I lost my job in the lockdown."
 
On the other side, desperate to get their projects off the ground, many employers are also giving the assurance that migrant workers will be taken care of as well as the meal and the accommodation will be provided free.

There are a total of 14 movements (up and down trains) every day from Pune currently, which is only a fraction of the usual movement of 150 trains.
 
Home Minister of the state Anil Deshmukh recently said, "Over 15,000 migrant workers who had left the state amid lockdown are returning to the state every day as industries have resumed operations in a phased manner."
 
"At least 15,500 workers are coming back to Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai and other parts of the state every day," he added.