Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, May 19: Following the nationwide lockdown that was enforced, the district administration made arrangements for stranded migrant workers and the homeless. Earlier in the week, as many as 250 migrants were shifted to Rosario Hall so that arrangements to send them back to their concerned states were made. However, the administration was unable to plan accordingly. The migrants complained that Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) supplied them rotten food.

Debash, one of the residents at the hostel and a migrant coolie worker said, "The food served by the administration in the nights is not edible. We receive a cup of half-boiled rice, salt and water mixed with chilli powder at night. The food has caused many women and children to fall ill. Several people residing here have refused to eat the food because of the bad quality. Not one official has visited our camp to enquire about our wellbeing. We found it difficult to convey our grievances to the administration.”

Mahanthesh, a migrant labourer from Jharkhand said, "In the noon, the church authorities provide us with lunch. The quality of the food is pleasant. It comforts us to get such homemade meals. Unfortunately, the meals provided by the administration is of inferior quality.

"There are a total of 250 migrants residing at Rosario Hall and there are only 10 toilets to accommodate all of us. It has become difficult for us to stay here with all these issues," he added.

Food supply from church authorities

The district administration had shifted the migrant workers to schools and halls around Mangaluru city. The migrants who are residing at Rosario and other Catholic halls are being served lunch by the church authorities. Meanwhile, the government has been assigned with the task of serving them dinner and the NGO’s have taken up the job of distributing breakfast to the migrants.

The members of St Antony ward, Milagres, distributed breakfast to about 600 migrants who gathered at Milagres College campus on Tuesday morning. John Monteiro, ward gurkar, Jude Fernandes, ward representative, Robert Castelino and Lionel Briggs were present.