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Daily wage workers are not a faceless crowd.
As governments makes them invisible, we must see them.
We must see each one of them.
#Thread
As governments makes them invisible, we must see them.
We must see each one of them.
#Thread
Among hundreds lying on the banks of Yamuna on Tuesday without food and shelter was Sanjeev Kumar.
He broke his leg in a road accident last month.
He was admitted to a government hospital. 4-5 days ago, an ambulance dropped him off to the Yamuna bank. He had nowhere else to go
He broke his leg in a road accident last month.
He was admitted to a government hospital. 4-5 days ago, an ambulance dropped him off to the Yamuna bank. He had nowhere else to go
This man was following the news closely. He had picked up the morning paper off the streets.
"Roti paani mil nahi raha hai, bahut pareshaani ho rahi hai," he said, complaining that the newspapers were not writing about workers like him.
He did not want to reveal his name.
"Roti paani mil nahi raha hai, bahut pareshaani ho rahi hai," he said, complaining that the newspapers were not writing about workers like him.
He did not want to reveal his name.
Look at the expression on this young man's face.
When the government restarted food distribution on Tuesday after stopping it for two days, he eagerly filled up his plate – a small disposable plate.
And then he queued up again. To ensure he could get a second helping.
When the government restarted food distribution on Tuesday after stopping it for two days, he eagerly filled up his plate – a small disposable plate.
And then he queued up again. To ensure he could get a second helping.
Many of the names were redacted from our report because workers feared police retribution.
A 15-year-old recounted how his play companion Suraj jumped into the river to escape the police. He claimed Suraj drowned. The police admit a body was recovered but say it is unidentified.
A 15-year-old recounted how his play companion Suraj jumped into the river to escape the police. He claimed Suraj drowned. The police admit a body was recovered but say it is unidentified.
Most workers were from UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand, MP. Some from Chhattisgarh.
One worker, Vijay Arumugam, said his family is from Tamil Nadu, but he had never been there. He had been raised in Delhi.
After lockdown started, he cooked his own meals till he ran out of money.
One worker, Vijay Arumugam, said his family is from Tamil Nadu, but he had never been there. He had been raised in Delhi.
After lockdown started, he cooked his own meals till he ran out of money.
Shiv Kumar Kashyap from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, had a basic point to make:
"Where will we get soap and clothes from? There is no work, no money. Kehte hai safai karo, haath dho baar baar, kahan se dhoyenge. They say wash your hands again and again, but how do we do this?"
"Where will we get soap and clothes from? There is no work, no money. Kehte hai safai karo, haath dho baar baar, kahan se dhoyenge. They say wash your hands again and again, but how do we do this?"
On Yamuna bank, @VijaytaL and I didn't spot women other than few older residents living in shanties with their families.
But elsewhere in Delhi I met these construction workers from Tikamgarh in MP. Meena Vanshkar said there was no money to buy tea and milk. No money to buy soap
But elsewhere in Delhi I met these construction workers from Tikamgarh in MP. Meena Vanshkar said there was no money to buy tea and milk. No money to buy soap
Meena Vanshkar was concerned about her pregnant daughter-in-law due to deliver a baby in weeks.
The family would've headed back home after wrapping work in Delhi.
But they're stuck because of the lockdown – without any support.
Millions are living through a nightmare right now
The family would've headed back home after wrapping work in Delhi.
But they're stuck because of the lockdown – without any support.
Millions are living through a nightmare right now
