UP Migrant Who Didn’t Get Shramik Train Seat Spends Savings To Buy Car To Go Home

For the past few months, migrant workers have faced the most difficulties that came with the nationwide lockdown. Unemployment, financial distress, and no means of transport to go back home had caused them to live under uncertain circumstances for long. Later, with the announcement of inter-state buses and shramik trains, some were hopeful.

However, shramik trains and buses have been reported to be extremely crowded, increasing the chances of these people to get infected all the more.

A man from UP named Lallan, who worked as a painter in Ghaziabad, spent all his savings to purchase a second-hand car in order to travel back home with his family to Gorakhpur.

According to a report by News18, Lallan waited for his turn to board a shramik train for 3 days but in vain. On the 4th day, he went to the bank and withdrew his entire savings of Rs 1.9 lakh, heading straight to a second-hand car dealer.

He purchased a car for Rs 1.5 and travelled back to his hometown Gorakhpur with his family, promising never to come back.

“After the lockdown, I stayed on hoping that things would soon return to normal. When the lockdown kept getting extended, I thought it would be safer for me and my family to return to our village. However, we made several attempts to get seats on buses or trains but failed,” Lallan said.

He added how the buses were overcrowded and he feared that his family might get infected.

“Finally, when I failed to get seats in the Shramik trains, I decided to buy a car and travel home. I know I have spent all my savings but at least my family is safe,” he said.

Lallan is currently undergoing home-quarantine with his family. He says if he manages to get work in Gorakhpur, he will never return to Ghaziabad.

How desperate does a person have to be to spend his life’s savings just to go back home? As a society, we have failed our migrant workers.

We hope Lallan and his family are safe and pray that he soon gets work opportunity in his hometown.