Daily wagers in deep trouble due to the lockdown

Panic increases in the poor class due to the lockdown

APRIL 24 (WTN) - The 21-day lockdown came for many as a surprise as a large section of the population, especially the poor class comprising labourers, migrant workers, and daily wagers were left in the lurch. 

Neither the governments nor their employers took any measure to prepare these people beforehand for the lockdown or provide them proper food and shelter during the course of the curfew. 

Resultantly, thousands of these migrants started fleeing to their homes in large groups as panic spread. Many were left without food and money and walked hundreds of miles to reach their native towns and villages as most employers abandoned them or held back their salaries. 

There were rumblings of the lockdown for quite sometime before March 25 but there was no authentic communication from the government regarding this and workers got a little window to prepare and make arrangements for their stay or their journey back home.

Subsequently there was a mass exodus in different parts of the country in the hysteric melee that posed a challenge before the police and administration to contain. While from the perspective of governance, such action by the people is irresponsible, illegal and regressive.

However, from the perspective of those deprived and panicked, such arguments don’t hold water because these people ran for their lives and had nothing more to lose. While the lockdown was essential, some better planning and management beforehand could have saved things from getting so messy.