The first Special Train with migrant labourers of Uttar Pradesh chugged off the Mohali Railway Station on Thursday.A total of 1288 workers who came from Hardoi district of UP, for working in SAS Nagar, headed for their native district in the non-stop train with no intermittent stoppage before Hardoi. The 24 coach train left Mohali Railway Station at 10:00 am, running right on schedule.Staff deployed at the railway station ensured that workers adhered to social distancing while boarding the train. Administration ensured drinking water and food for all on board.The SAS Nagar Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan along with ADC Ashika Jain supported by SDM’s and other officers co-ordinated and gave a sendoff to the labourers.Deputy Commissioner informed that the workers were screened thoroughly at the designated collection centres before they boarded the train. They were ferried via buses from the eight collection centres to the railway station.He said that 35 percent less than those who had registered themselves on the government portal turned up for departure. Elaborating, he said that 1188 people were contacted a day before for confirmation of departure plan but twenty five percent declined to go while another 10% did not turn up at the railway station even after confirmation. Therefore, administration mobilized the ones in reserved/ waiting list and facilitated their departure.
“It is a good omen”, said Girish adding that “refusal of people to go back is an indication that we are tip-toeing towards normalcy; permission to resume labour intensive construction work and industrial operations has reduced the threat of losing an earning opportunity and will check mass exodus.”He also mentioned that nearly 64000 migrants from UP and Bihar had registered themselves on the portal so the preference is being accorded to them. The schedule of three weeks has been chalked out and on 8th May, 1320 migrants would leave from Mohali Railway Station to Hardoi at 10 am.He appealed to the migrant that since the normalcy is being restored gradually, any migrant except those in acute distress, who don't want to go back, are welcome to stay back in the district. He said that registration on the portal doesn’t imply that they have to compulsorily leave; they can always choose to stay back and work.The home bound migrants thanked Punjab Government for arranging the train and providing food and drinking water.