As Surat migrants protest, demand to resume MSMEs. Reason? 'Zero Covid-19 case'

Surat migrants' protest

Counterview Desk
Several civil rights and workers’ organizations have made a representation to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani and chief secretary Anil Mukim on urgent need for exit strategy, especially for migrant workers of Surat, even as hundreds of them have been reportedly protesting, demanding safe passage to their homes.
Home to about 15 lakh migrant labourers, belonging to several states, most notably Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, the city has been witnessing the expressions of restive migrant labourers for some time now, and with the extension of lockdown, things have become particularly become precarious for them.
While the officials claim that they have been feeding around six lakh people per day, with NGOs helping them out by distributing food packets and community kitchens, and arrangements for their shelter have been made, migrants have little faith in the administration, say reports.

Text:

We as concerned individuals/ organisations/ NGOs associated with labourers, poor and marginalised, and civil rights groups engaged with providing relief to the needy, seek your attention towards the following suggestions as part of the exit strategy out of the present challenging situation.
The world is going through the dire times fighting against the deadly Covid-19 virus. The timely decision by the Central Government and the subsequent steps taken in conjunction with the states has ensured to arrest the spread of the deadly virus in our country. Taking stock of the situation and need of the hour the Central Government has announced extension of the lockdown till May 3.
The present health emergency has also resulted in Humanitarian distress. Our economy which was already ailing is also facing a blow from the present situation. We appreciate the efforts put in by the state government, administration, health workers, police department, sanitation workers and the civil society. The cumulative efforts have ensured that we address the issue at various fronts. The state of Gujarat has successfully been able to contain the spread of Covid-19 and ensure health and safety of the citizens.
As the government plans to prepare for the exit strategy from the current situation we would like to put some specific suggestions regarding the humanitarian issues involved with the Working and the marginalised class:

Surat district has about more than 15 lakh migrant workers from states like Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, etc. The areas with sizeable migrant population in Surat are safe from the spread of the deadly virus. We have successfully passed about 25 days without any reported cases in the area (14 days incubation period for the virus).
The workers are engaged in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs form the economic backbone of the state of Gujarat. The Gujarat government should prioritise opening and functioning of this industries immediately with adequate precautions as prescribed by Health Department. Hence the large population associated with the textile, diamond and other industries can get engaged and employed. This will also help the entrepreneurs.
The needy migrant workers be provided atleast 10 days of ration per person in one tranche immediately (rice, wheat, dal, oil, etc.). This will ensure that they have enough to feed themselves for next 10 days.
A single point functional helpline or WhatsApp number be provided for people to register themselves for the Ration. Announcements regarding this be made in Hindi too. Anyone registering here be responded maximum within next two days with provisions.
Labour unions, NGOs and civil society organisations can be engaged in ensuring smooth implementation and observation of registration and distribution of the provisions.
The government can arrange for transportation after proper screening of people who wish to return to their natives, since there are almost zero cases in the migrant areas. We are yet unable to cover all the population under testing, this can be safely considered. Since the administration and security personnel are engaged in ensuring law and order situation, this will also ensure that their services can be utilised in other areas, at a time when the state is already stressed of human resources.

We hope the state government will positively consider the above important suggestions. This can be replicated in other districts also.
---
*Click HERE for signatories

Comments

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha* The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza* An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas* Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024.

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco* Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

'Pro-corporate agenda': Odisha crackdown on tribal slum dwellers fighting for land rights

By Our Representative The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), even as condemning what it calls “brutal repression” on the Adivasi slum dwellers of Salia Sahi in Bhubaneshwar by the Odisha police, has said that the crackdown was against the tribals struggling for land rights in order to “stop the attempts at land-grab by the government.”

Deplorable, influential sections 'still believe' burning coal is essential indefinitely

By Shankar Sharma* Some of the recent developments in the power sector, as some recent news items show, should be of massive relevance/ interest to our policy makers in India. Assuming that our authorities are officially mandated/ committed to maintain a holistic approach to the overall welfare of all sections of our society, including the flora, fauna and general environment, these developments/ experiences from different parts of the globe should be clear pointers to the sustainable energy pathways for our people.

Hazrat Aisha’s age was 16, not 6: 'Weak' Hadith responsible for controversy

Sacred chamber where Prophet and Aisha used to live By Dr Mike Ghouse* Muslims must take the responsibility to end the age-old controversy about Hazrat Aisha’s age at the time of her marriage to the Prophet (pbuh) – it was 16, not 6 (minimum was 16, Max 23 per different calculations). The Hadiths published were in good faith, but no one ever checked their authenticity, and they kept passing on from scholar to scholar and book to book. Thanks to 9/11, Muslims have started questioning and correcting the Hadiths, Seerah, and mistranslations of the Quran. Now, the Ulema have to issue an opinion, also known as Fatwa, to end it and remove those Hadith entries. Mustafa Akyol, a scholar of Islam, implores Muslims to stop deifying “the received traditions” and critically study their religious past, shedding rigid legalism and close-mindedness. Someone else used the phrase “copycat Muslims” to identify scholars who copied what was given to them and passed it on without researching or questioni

Search This Blog