Daily wage workers stranded in Assam will be allowed to return home 

GUWAHATI: Daily wage workers stranded in Assam will be allowed to return home, informed DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on April 20.

The transportation for the workers will be arranged by the Assam government.

There are thousands of people who will be provided help.

There are more than 40,000 workers from Assam stranded outside the state. 13,000 of them have been provided help by Assam Bhawans.

The lockdown has made things really difficult for the migrants.

Migrant workers are living in conditions conducive for transmission of coronavirus infection, which also deeply disturb their psychological health, social integrity and well-being amid the ongoing lockdown due to the pandemic.

Speaking to IANS, Dr Ashish Pakhre, a senior psychiatrist from AIIMS, said the debilitating effect of pandemic on the psychosocial vulnerabilities of migrants and their families needs to be addressed adequately.

“There are chances that migrants do not get valid and correct information about the pandemic such as transmission risks, treatment and action plan being considered. Considering rampant flow of misinformation and rumours on social media, it is likely that they could be influenced badly and thus suffer more”, said Pakhre.

He also called for gender sensitive steps while developing a response.

Migrants face uncertainty on food availability and financial security — reasons for tremendous worries in this vulnerable population. Dr Pakhre said that designing public response will need urgency because infection among migrants will most likely spread quickly and they will have difficulty in accessing immediate healthcare facilities. He emphasized that the language used and communication methods should communicate the seriousness of the pandemic and its implications.

“It is crucial that multiple local languages used by migrants, their community leaders and modes of communications are utilized to ensure delivery of accurate information. During such times of rapid administrative and massive socio-environmental changes, it is essential that their human rights are not violated”, said Dr Pakhre.

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