Scribe Arun Gupta helps 72 labourers to return home
OUR CORRESPONDENT
GOSSAIGAON: During this lockdown period, a large number of people were stranded in different parts of the country. Around 72 people from Bihar, who worked as daily labourers in Meghalaya, were forced to leave their work place because of shortage of money. They left for Bihar on foot and accordingly walked for more than 500 kilometres and reached Pakriguri along the Assam-Bengal border where they were stopped and not allowed to enter West Bengal. Later, Kokrajhar administration quarantined them in the Dhauliguri quarantine centre in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district. During the quarantine period of 14 days, they regularly communicated with the Bihar government and officials to arrange for their return home. But as no steps were taken, they were depressed and disillusioned.
However, media persons Arun Gupta gave them a ray of hope and took initiative to send them back home. He arranged two buses for them. A part of the fare for the buses was paid by the labourers while the remaining fare was sponsored by a social worker from Guwahati, Chatur Singh and Arun Gupta. SDO(c) Gossaigaon Ansula Basumatary lauded this initiative by Arun Gupta and Chatur Singh. The labourers presented Gupta a Bhojpuri gamcha as a token of love and appreciation.