As the 21-day lockdown comes to an end today, all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech scheduled for 10am. It is widely expected that the national lockdown will be extended by at least two weeks, which was the reported decision after a meeting between PM Modi and chief ministers. States like Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have already extended the coronavirus lockdown in their respective territories till April 30.
However, the decision will impact two classes of people the most: inter-state migrant workers and the nation's sizeable diaspora in the Gulf countries.
Gulf diaspora:
Around eight million Indians are living in the Gulf countries and there has been growing anxiety among them over their livelihood in view of the pandemic as it has majorly impacted the oil-driven economy of the region. Around 3.3 million Indians are living in the UAE, constituting roughly 30 per cent of the country's population, and as a matter of policy, India had decided not to bring back the stranded Indians from abroad till the lockdown ended. A large number of Indians are working in the construction sector in Qatar which is hosting the FIFA world cup in 2022.
However, Indian missions in the region have been told to extend all possible assistance to the Indians in distress and keep an eye on evolving socio-economic situation in the wake of the pandemic. The Centre had announced it a top priority to ensure the well-being of the Gulf diaspora and PM Modi himself had engaged with the heads of Gulf states.
The situation in the Gulf countries is fluid, to say the least. Almost all of them have taken a series of drastic measures including imposing total lockdown, travel restrictions and even closing borders to stem the spread of the coronavirus infection. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has already warned of possible action against countries refusing to allow their citizens to return.
Over the last few weeks, Modi has been holding consultations with leaders of several Gulf nations, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with whom he spoke on March 17 to discuss the COVID-19 situation. Modi has also spoken to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Bahraini King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. During these discussions, one of the primary issues raised by Prime Minister Modi was the well-being of the Indian diaspora in these nations, according to reports.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had, in a letter to PM Modi, urged that "special consideration" be shown to the needs of the Gulf diaspora at the earliest. The Union government should consider arranging special flights to bring these people back, Vijayan said, adding that all international health protocols can be followed while extending this facility. The chief minister said the state government would take care of the testing and quarantine needs of the Keralites after they return.
The Congress had accused the central government of ignoring the plight of Indians stuck in COVID-19 hotspots abroad and sought immediate measures to safeguard their lives. "The Indian government cannot leave the NRI citizens at the mercy of fate and it should take immediate measures to safeguard the citizens stranded in the COVID-19 hotspots abroad," the Congress leader noted. Venugopal said there has been substantial increase in coronavirus cases in the gulf and west Asian countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. "India's large expat population working in these countries are consequently affected by the virus and the government of India ought to take extraordinary measures on a war footing to ensure medical care to these people stranded abroad," he said.
Migrant workers
Last week, hundreds of migrant workers from Odisha stormed the streets of Surat in Gujarat, demanding salaries and means to return to their native places. The workers, who went on a rampage, broke vegetable carts. Several of these unorganised labourers belonging to the textile sector have been arrested.
In March, a few days into lockdown, hundreds of migrant labourers had taken to the streets at Paippad in Kerala's Kottayam district, defying the lockdown and demanding transportation to their home states. The migrant labourers, who had been residing around Paippad, gathered at the town centre and raised slogans against the state administration. CM Vijayan Vijayan had then dubbed as "unfortunate" the mass protests by migrant labourers across the state, claiming that there were "anti-social elements" at play.
Migrant workers who were stuck in their places of employment had been restless during the lockdown. While many took perilous journeys back to their home states on foot, most others found themselves locked in. In Gujarat, for instance, while a number of migrant workers from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan managed to cross the borders even during the lockdown, a large section from other states such as Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar have not been able to return to their homes. Addressing their issues will be crucial.
The states are conflicted. Take the case of Jharkhand, for instance. The state is in a dilemma. Extending the lockdown would lead to financial distress and lifting it could trigger an exodus of migrants into the state. During an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said his government is expecting over 5 lakh migrant labourers to return to their villages once the lockdown is lifted, increasing the possibility of the spread of the deadly virus. But, continuing with the lockdown will further dry up the state's revenue, he added. "Whether the lockdown is lifted or extended, it is a difficult situation for us from both ways," Soren told the prime minister during the video conference held with chief ministers to assess the the situation in states due to the pandemic.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari said talks are underway with state governments to re-start highway construction projects where migrant labourers can be gainfully employed. The Centre has asked the state and union territories to take welfare measures for the migrant labourers living in camps in different parts of the country that include food, shelter, medicine, mobile and video call facilities. The Bihar government also reached out and provided relief to over 5 lakh distressed residents of the state stranded in Delhi and other parts of the country.
