Ranchi Police walks extra mile to arrange food and transport for migrants

Ranchi: A group of 12 Bihar-bound migrants, who pedalled all their way from Kerala, finally get some food and rest at Booty More on the Ramgarh-Ranchi stretch of NH-33. An hour later, they boarded an open truck bound for Barhi in Hazaribag on the Bihar borders, thanks to Ranchi Police, who worked overtime to help people in need.
Police officials said the group was offered water while they took rest under tree shades.The policemen then provided meals from a makeshift counter and hailed empty trucks along the way. After having hot poori sabji, the men loaded their bicycles on an empty truck stopped by the police and were on their way to the nearest transit point for home.
Similarly, a group 40 workers, including a few elderly persons who were walking on the same highway with bags, baggage, buckets and utensils, were given shelter and food at a roadside community kitchen centre set up by police near BIT Mesra police station.
A migrant worker, who is in early 20s and part of the group told TOI, “We are coming from Mumbai and going to Chakradharpur. We began our journey seven days ago on foot after failing to get any trains or buses and somehow managed to walk this far. At times, we got lifts in empty trucks, but mostly we kept walking almost throughout the days and nights.”
His co-traveller added, “We all worked at a construction company but lost our job two months back. With all resources dried up, we decided to walk back home.”
Police team at BIT Mesra feed them khichdi before arranging a transport till Hatia. An official said, “Since we don’t have our own resources to hire vehicles, what we did was to stop heavy vehicles that are empty to help the migrants cover some distance at least. Other teams along the route will help them further.”
Last week, chief minister Hemant Soren directed state DGP M V Rao and all district authorities to ensure that no migrant travels on foot or bicycle. But scores of migrants continue arrive on foot or bicycles, notwithstanding claims of several states that special trains and interstate buses were plying to ferry them.
A Deoghar-bound migrant, who reached Ranchi from Mumbai in a private bus, said that lack of coordination among states have made them risk their lives and spend their savings to return home. He said, “I have lost count the number of times I called helplines of Jharkhand and Maharashtra governments to get information about special trains or bus service but to no avail. I also enrolled on online apps introduced by both the governments but either the registration failed or there was no update. Finally, I decided to come home on my own.”
He added, “I paid Rs 5,000 to board a bus from Mumbai and reached Ranchi in six days. Initially, I spent some money to buy a bicycle but was soon stolen. With the remaining money, I managed to get a seat on a Ranchi-bound bus. I will walk till Deoghar if I don’t get any help.”
Ranchi SSP Anish Gupta said they are trying their best provide transport to all migrants. He said, “All police stations have been asked to walk the extra mile to arrange transportation for migrants in liaison with local BDOs and circle officers. We will also continue to run community kitchens daily.”