Ahead of Budget, mid-day shares stories of migrant workers who were forced to head home for some time last year and are now back in the city of dreams
The COVID-triggered lockdown resulted in an exodus of migrant workers from Mumbai last year. File pic
The heart-rending scenes of men, women and children walking on highways and railway tracks under a blistering sun last year had scores of migrant workers from Mumbai. Many of them have returned to the city of dreams hoping they have left behind the worst phase of their lives. mid-day spoke to a few such individuals who are today driven by nothing but optimism.
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Jamalludin Khan, 45
After the lockdown was imposed in March 2020, Jamalludin Khan hoped hamals or porters like him would find some work in the city of dreams. By May, his optimism had waned and he headed for his home in Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. He walked for miles on rail tracks, hopped on to trains, hitched rides on vehicles. During pre-pandemic days, Khan said, he would earn Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month and send money for his wife and four children. “I have a small piece of land in my hometown. I did farming for a few weeks but it was not enough to arrange for two meals for my family members,” Khan told mid-day. The 45-year-old set out for Mumbai in August. In Mumbai, Khan began working in essential goods markets in south Mumbai. “Since the markets were not operating fully, there was little work for porters. This led to exploitation since all were desperate for work. I earned as much as I used to in my hometown, but stayed put hoping that things would improve.” The dark clouds began to clear for Khan as Crawford Market and Masjid Bunder slowly got back to life. “There are many who left Mumbai with me. They ask me whether work has started. Gradually, porters are returning to Mumbai and we expect we will be back to what we earned earlier in a few months.”
Rajendra Gaud, 27
Rajendra Gaud worked as a helper to a carpenter after he lost his job at a chemical factory in Dombivli. Pic/Rajesh Gupta
During the ‘old normal’, Rajendra Gaud, 27, earned about R18,000 servicing pumps and motors at a chemical factory in Dombivli. After spending six years there, he became jobless when it shut down last June. “We were struggling for our daily meals. Somehow with the help of a Shramik train, we reached our native place Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Within two months, I came back to Mumbai in search of a new job as things had started moving slowly.” Gaud, who lives in Mulund, said his employer had shifted the factory to Nashik by then. “I was offered a job at the same factory but at half salary. I didn’t take it up,” Gaud said. Left with no option, Gaud started working as a helper to a carpenter. “I was supposed to get R9,000 per month, but have received only 50 per cent of it so far. Still there are no jobs and I am going back to my native place in the coming days hoping that this year will bring some good opportunities for people like us who lost their jobs and have struggled a lot,” he added.
'18,000
Rajendra Gaud’s monthly salary before COVID
Pawan Kanojia, 34
Pawan Kanojia, who runs a laundry and dry cleaning shop in Vashi, sold fruits for sometime
As ‘work from home’ became the new normal, Pawan Kanojia, 34, was among the hundreds of ‘istriwallas’ that saw their earnings dry up overnight. Pawan, who has a small laundry shop in Vashi, began dipping into his savings. “I didn’t have the slightest hint that the lockdown would destroy my life. I had recently renovated my shop and it was doing well. I used to save R10 to 15,000 after paying electricity bills, rent and workers’ payment,” said Pawan. Pawan left for his home Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, in May and spent the next few months sitting idle at his parents’ home. “As unlocking began, I moved back to Navi Mumbai in August,” Pawan said. But the footfall at his shop had become a trickle. He then became a fruit seller to tide over the crisis. “I used to go to the APMC market at 5 am to bring fruits,” he said. Diwali brought some cheers for Pawan as he saw more and more customers visiting his shop for dry cleaning and ironing. “My savings have gone. I have not been able to pay LIC premiums, but I have managed to survive. I am getting 50 per cent of work that I was getting in January-February 2020. It will take at least another 5 to 6 months to make some profit,” he added.
Kumud Sardar, 33
Kumud Sardar of West Bengal suffered twin blows - lockdown and Cyclone Amphan
As an office boy in an event management company, Kumud Sardar was paid Rs 12,000 a month. When his struggle for a job didn’t fructify even after 7 to 8 months, the 33-year-old changed track. The Bhandup resident became a labour contractor. “I came from West Bengal five years ago. Before lockdown, I could easily send money for my wife and two daughters. But the pandemic changed everything. After I lost my job, I applied to 50-60 companies without any success. I even sold vada pav in Andheri.” Sardar said he was forced to go back, but more hardship awaited him. “Cyclone Amphan destroyed our farm and house. My friend Manoj helped me become a labour contractor. I gathered the details of all those who went jobless and started my own employment agency.” He has so far helped 50 people with jobs. “I also provide labourers to other contractors and househelps. I am happy my work is in progress.”
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