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Desperate to get home, migrants have become easy targets of con artists, the tricks of their savings by the promise of road transport or the seat in the train.
“My only desire was to see my ailing father for the last time. An acquaintance told me that a truck load ₹4,000 for the trip to Samastipur in Bihar. I paid, but the police caught the truck on the road and brought us back to Panvel,” said Sabina Mallik, who works as a house help.
“I have no money and my father is no more. I want to go back home. I did several rounds of the enrollment center for the special train, and now I’m waiting for my name to appear on the passengers ‘list”, said the mother of a five year old child, who lives in a chawl in Panvel.
Many of those who have been deceived shy away from reporting to the police, fearing action against them.
Bittu Singh, 32 years, of Araria in Bihar, who works as an electrician for housing projects in Panvel, used to earn ₹800-₹1,000 per day.
“After one-and-one-half months of the blockade, I stayed with ₹1,800. A friend told me that they were organizing a small vehicle and gave him ₹1,500. I didn’t hear from him after that. I don’t have the patience to file a complaint,” he said.
Satish Gaikwad, senior inspector of Kalamboli police station said, “When they come for the registration of the Shramik train, tell us about being deceived. We tell them not to go in non-authorized transport vehicles.”
The Navi Mumbai police have so far registered 40,000 migrants to Shramik special trains.
Ambedkar Tupe, senior inspector of Kamothe police station, said, “Our advice to migrant workers is to wait for your turn.”
