Shankar Pasi, 25, a labourer from the Siwan district of Bihar is among hundreds of migrant labourers who either have chosen to stay or have not been able to leave amid the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir valley.
Many people, like Pasi, have been left entirely dependent on the relief being distributed by local youth to locals as well as non-locals.
“We don’t have money and we have nothing to eat. Had it not been for the local youth, we would have starved,” said Pasi, who lives in a rented accommodation along with a dozen other labourers on the outskirts of Anantnag in south Kashmir.
No work has been available for most of the migrant labourers in the wake of the ongoing turmoil and curfew restrictions. Even if some managed to get work, they have did not get wages as people are short of cash due to closure of banks and ATMs.
Some of them said they had sent their savings to their homes around Eid, just before the clashes and protests erupted on July 9.
“We work here and we send money to our families back home. Who would have thought of such a scenario,” said Tajammul Teli of the Supaul district of Bihar.
Teli is among the lucky ones to find both work and money but remains still dependent on the relief distribution by the local youth.
“We have been able to buy only some rice even though we have some money. Other things, including vegetables, oil, spices, are being provided by the local youth,” said Teli.
Teli and four other migrant labourers working with him said they had not been able to talk to their families in the wake of the communication blackout.
“We hope to earn some money so that we can leave for home as soon as possible. Though we do not feel threatened or unsafe here, we want to be with our families, who must be worried about our well-being,” said another labourer Babu Lal.
Locals in Valley taking care of migrant labourers amidst turmoil
