Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, May 20 (KINS): Amid COVID-19 lock down, thousands of labourers in Kashmir including daily wagers in various government departments are finding it hard to feed their families.
“This lockdown has put a labourer like me in deep trouble. It is very difficult for labourers to feed their families,” Mohammad Shafi, who was selling footwear on a footpath in Srinagar, told news agency KINS.
These days he is sitting idle at home. “I debited Rs 1000 from one of relatives that have been exhausted,” he added.
The safaikaramcharis of SMC who are forefront to contain the COVID-19 are also without salaries for months.
“We are without salaries for last three months. In times of plague, the safaikaramcharis are working day and night. We are struggling to feed our families,” one of the safaikaramcharis said.
A non-local labourer Shahid said he has not a single penny in my pocket.
“We don’t have money even to buy medicines. My father and mother are worried about me. We won’t die by coronavirus but by hunger,” said visibly upset Shahid.
Satish Kumar, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh has been working in Kashmir for last eight years. He is lodged in one of government buildings in south Kashmir.
“Our families are worried about our safety. I have seen 2010 and 2016 lockdown but this time it is scary to stay here. We are even not able to make a video call to our families due to low internet speed. We want to leave for our home as soon as possible. We want to survive to see the faces of our family members,” Kumar said in an anxious tone.
He said some locals helped them and provided food. “But everyone is running for his safety. If anyone gets infected, he can disseminate it to others. We (laborers) are prone to get infected as we don’t sanitize ourselves. How can we avoid any possible transmission of the virus when we are not able to maintain any distance,” he asked.(KINS)
