Special trains from Karnataka for migrants cancelled after CM meets builders


Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (SHP)

Bengaluru, May 6: Karnataka government has decided to cancel all trains that were scheduled to transport the migrant workers to their villages from Wednesday, May 6. The decision was taken after leading property builders conducted meeting with chief minister B S Yediyurappa.

"The COVID-19 situation in the state is in control as compared to other states. Barring the red zones, business, construction work and industrial activities have to be resumed. In this background, it was explained that unnecessary travel of the migrant workers has to be controlled," Yediyurappa said after the meeting.

Following the decision on the matter, the state government also wrote a letter to the Indian Railways for cancellation of the trains scheduled to depart from May 6.

Meanwhile, the decision has served a blow to the migrant workers that are finding it troublesome to return home.

Referring to an earlier request of requiring three trains to ferry the workers, nodal officer for the inter-state travel N Manjunath Prasad claimed that the train services were no longer necessary. "About 10,000 labourers who wanted to go to Bihar were at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. They said they wanted to go home following which we requested the railways for trains. Yesterday (Tuesday), Yediyurappa held a meeting with construction agencies — Metro, BIAL and all infrastructure projects which are going on. The chief minister directed them to start all work immediately. Afterwards, migrant labourers at BIEC were all told that work will start. They were also told about the chief minister’s meeting. All of them have gone back. We have informed that trains scheduled for Wednesday will not be required. Three trains scheduled for Bihar now stand cancelled," Prasad was quoted in a report by News18.

"These are people who have come to work in Bengaluru. Once there is employment, normalcy will get established… so why go back then? Those who still want to go back can do so using their vehicle," he added.

Although no appropriate reason has been provided for the cancellations, a senior government official claimed the decision to be the outcome of meeting the government had with Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI).

It was noted in the meeting that the workers were vital to revive the failing economy in the state.

The workers who took the trains back home reportedly had to pay Rs 800 to 1,200 per ticket depending on the destination. They also had to pay the fare for the state-run BMTC buses which ferried them to the railway station.

Karnataka has over 2 lac, migrant labourers, from different parts of the country and Bangladesh and Nepal. More than 80,000 of them are from Orissa and about 70,000 are from Bihar, as per the labour department's records collected during the pandemic. 

 

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • smr, Karkala

    Thu, May 07 2020

    Who said the bonded labour is abolished in India?

    The 'construction lobby' who are the main election fund raisers for the BJP are bowed to them.

    The 'Fakir' Prime Minister should better rename 'PM Care' as 'Don't care' funds. The BJP is repeating the 'slave trade' of then European colonials in India.


    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • LM, Mangalore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    The Labour Commissioner should intervene and allow the migrant labourers to go to their village. They are tired, malnourished and home sick. CM's action constitutes bonded labour. Either court or general public should help these people.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • James, Bendur

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Big set up and conspiracy between builders and the CM. Shame on Yeddy favoring builders at the cost of migrant workers.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naresh, Kerala

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Karnataka CM has just succumbed to pressure of the construction lobby who wanted to exploit the other state workers as they serve the purpose of cheap labour. In the present conditions, where they are living in penury; these labourers will become easy victims of the builder’s exploitation.

    In this context, quote what the previous UN Secretary General said “Migration is an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future. It is part of the social fabric, part of our very make-up as a human family”. The Kerala Government rightly calls them as Guest Workers and not “Migrants”.

    Government should allow them to go back to their home towns and make necessary arrangements for their travel.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Honnappa, Byadagi

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Reducing burden of Central ( Union ) and states ruled by same party. Mess up.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence, Mangalore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Construction workers should be unionized. They should get all the benefits provided under Contract Labour (Regulations & Abolition) Act and CL (R&A) Rules. It is the time that some labour union leaders, like late George Fernandes, should come forward and organize the construction labour.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Sharjah

    Wed, May 06 2020

    This Govt treats the poor labour as SLAVES. Are the builders taking care of food and health of these migrant workers or paying them wages without work?

    DisAgree Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Felix Pinto, Koteshwara

    Wed, May 06 2020

    So, the destiny of migrants is decided by builders and politicians! Are we still practising slavery and bonded labour? While niether the central government nor the State Government took care of their shelter and food, they are now treated as a commodity and a tool. Shame on our system!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Save my India, India.

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Migrant workers, well wishers of Migrant workers, pls take note of the following :
    Yeddy has colluded with the builders' lobby and cancelled trains and other transport to trap migrant workers from leaving Karnataka, thereby forcing them to remain and make out a hard living against their will and wish.
    He never bothered about these workers since the lock down, now he has come up with a heavy hand.

    Migrant workers have the following option:
    Since you have few or no option to return to your places of origin, kindly remain at your workplaces, and carry on work, until you have collected enough money to return home, when all means of transportation will be available to you, unless Yeddy will honestly work on improving your safety, health, work and salary conditions.

    Make sure you people demand all your legal and financial rights under the law from Karnataka govt.

    When you have the necessary funds, you people should leave Karnataka abruptly and in large numbers, and make the lazy people of Karnataka who are depending on Dosa Bhagya, Rice Bhagya and free incentives, that has made them to live without doing any work.

    Jai Hind!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sahil, Mangaluru

    Wed, May 06 2020

    U Turn will hurt poor migrants worker sentiment... Prior to such decision builder and you all checked with migrants worker opinion.

    DisAgree Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    I think that big lobby from builders. Already liquor dealers lobby is full success. Next I think the education institutions turn. Lastly the opening of temples, mosques and churches. Our economy may be back and strong. That what I think.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sun, Manglore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    This is the second phase of the SUDDEN lock down by the PM without any plan, idea and thoughts. If centre agreed to provide the train after 40 days, and the migrants are paying the tickets then what is the problem with Mr. Yeddi. No one was there to check the situation of the migrants/ daily wagers after the initial PR shoot out. Is the builder to decide whether the Migrant should go home or not? Is India not a Democratc Republic?.
    Next decision will be migrant labours MUST install Arogyasethu if they want to go home.😷

    DisAgree [13] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwin, Mangalore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    The politicians need people for vote.It is in their fear they are not allowed to go to their place shows the slavery system prevailed before independence. Where is democracy to these people.whatever less given to them for self interest

    DisAgree [7] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Wed, May 06 2020

    Denying transport to these migrants equates to forcing them to become slave labour.

    The Government has a duty to give freedom to people...

    ...unless the Government thinks that these poor people have no right to their personal choice!

    Come to think of it, the migrants from Gujarat too were not allowed to leave.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • francis lobo, Mangalore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    It is foolish on part of the government to stop trains or buses and retain people based on the builder's advice. Once the trains start can the government stop them from going out by paying?. Did any real estate or builder pay these people or supply food to them during the lockdown. They just threw them out of their accommodations as they thought that these same people will contract Covid-19. Today they want them back as they are cheap labor or household maids . How many of them were paid their back wages during lockdown ?.

    A few months back one of the MLA made a video of the accommodation of the same migrant workers who were staying in Bangalore and uploaded it targetting a community and religion. Next day police went and demolished it without any warrant or court order. Recently the plot owner hammered the same people and threw them out forcibly

    And today same MLA's, MP's who demoralized these people want them to work for development. These migrants are not of foreign origin but are of our own country and the government restricts them from movement. Are we a real independent /democratic country or ruled by political /industrial/commercial lobbies whims and fancies.

    Tomorrow if COVID spreads because of these migrants are these real estate lobby going to support and treat the migrants ?. or just throw them out.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramu, Barkur

    Wed, May 06 2020

    See the crowd from other states...and even neighbouring countries are working in karnataka and earning well. Latter on make bombala there is problem of security and crime rate exceeded. Now the time appoint local people for every work. Even experienced people drop-in from abroad...use them.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chetan, Udupi

    Wed, May 06 2020

    If the migrant labourers were treated well and taken care of with food, shelter, medicine, etc in the last 45 days, they definitely would not have decided to return to their places. Instead of the misery, here they have chosen to live or die in their own places. The government which was a Cruel, Mute Spectator for 45 days has now woken up to cater to its own interests. Succumbing to the pressure of Builders is has cancelled the buses. This is height of carelessness and irresponsibility. Neither the Centre nor the State government have any clue of what is going on....sad situation..

    DisAgree [8] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramu, Barkur

    Wed, May 06 2020

    So much unemployment in state. People not wants to work. They only happy to stay with free ration announced by congress government. Our people are become totally nikkamah. Open more of Indira Canteen..they work only for those hours to obtain food from canteen. Latter on people shout there is no job around. People from kolkatta are working in constructiin field and even married to local.girl..also they speak fluent kannada. Our's people only find near bars all the time..doing gossips. Aal..Eer...Mol..Eer.. Disgusting really.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, mlore

    Wed, May 06 2020

    40days our officialls and politicians were sleeping and now starting dicussing and finding sollution to transport migrant to their native places... this should have been done before enforcing lockdown..Govt could have given 4-5days to go back to native places. but wht to do.. we are good in AAJ Rath 12 baje se..........

    DisAgree [6] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramu, Barkur

    Wed, May 06 2020

    What actually Karnataka Labour Force doing..if so much employment around. Why we want to halt people from other states. If they wish to go let them travel. We cannot stop anybody. May be they have pressure from there family members to return. How one can work with half mind. Let them go and return after six months. We cannot force anybody to stay. Do any company/government written bond agreement with them.
    Bagale Ke Pichhe Teri Beri Ke Niche...Kanta Lagha....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, May 06 2020

    In entire India only Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa cares for Migrants ...

    DisAgree [17] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse


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