Migrant Labour Heading Back Home Fearing Another Lockdown

Recent surge in the number of Covid-19 cases across India has triggered fear of another lockdown. Many migrant labourers working in various big cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad have started returning to their native places via trains and other means of transport. This is due to the fear of past difficulties they faced during the previous lockdown which started from 23rd March 2020.

Maharashtra and Gujarat are the worst hit states in this new wave of Covid infections and has seen exponential growth in the number of Corona Virus cases over the past month. Most of the major cities of the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow have imposed night curfew with Maharashtra even announcing complete lockdown on weekends. Gujarat High Court had also suggested the State government to impose lockdown to control the situation. Various hospitality businesses like hotels, restaurants and bars have already been closed down or facing stringent restrictions by the respective state governments.

Although, there have been no restrictions imposed on the manufacturing sector and heavy industries yet, being labour dependent, they might also face difficulties if the migration of labourers continues at the same rate.