News Interview by Ayushi Kedia :
Mumbai: BMC Corporator, Sushma Rai shares her views and work experience on the plight of migrant workers.
Hello Mumbai: What kind of support work are you doing in your ward for the people during the lockdown period?
Sushma rai: We along with our team members are providing sanitization facilities in our ward properly and recently I have purchased 10 sanitizing machines. Also, we are supplying food to 1000 migrant laborers and poor people of my ward regularly, and distributed 1500 grocery kits till now, moreover by focusing on the Roza of the Muslim community we are providing the facility of food for 500 people daily at 5:30 pm.
Hello Mumbai: Are u satisfied with BMC and State government performance to combat COVID- 19?
Sushma rai: we are prepared for droughts, floods, cyclones but not for a sudden attack of virus, and by seeing this BMC is doing a commendable job, and here in the state government isn’t handling the situation of MUMBAI hence Maha Nagar Palika is dealing with the situation. But state government has provided free 5kg rice to people who were registered for below poverty line according to 2018 record. But those whoever has left their subsidy are not considered by the state government but people who earn 20k-25k are facing problems now.
Hello Mumbai: What are you doing for the migrant worker?
Sushma Rai: I have filled up the form of the migrant workers and PDFs are ready online of 1200 workers and I have sent the list of all people who will travel from Mumbai to Azamgad to Uttar Pradesh government so as soon as I will receive the mail of LOC from UP government we will provide the training facility very next day and it’s a permission granted by Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Hello Mumbai: What is your demand to the Government?
Sushma Rai: My demand from Maha Nagar Palika is to provide grocery kit comprising 15kg rice, 15 kg flour, 2kg sugar, etc to poor people who are below the poverty line or people who are in real demand of these basic amenities. along with all the other facilities and transportation facilities for the migrant laborers because in this panic situation everyone is going on the way to their villages by walking without food and water and this is heart shaking situation
According to me, Middle-class family is also money deprived and they are facing problems too so government should once look after to them also.
Hello Mumbai: What kind of challenges are you facing while working for COVID- 19?
Sushma Rai: We are facing lot of challenges.At first, migrant labourers are in no mood to stay here and also they are not ready to wait for the LOC and started walking to their villages, by bus or truck. Distinguishing positive cases and quarantine cases are becoming tough.
No sooner the monsoon sets in people will run for shelters which may lead to spike in cases.
Hello Mumbai: What has been was your overall experience?
Sushma rai: This is a very different experience. It wasn’t in my wildest I dream a country would be in lockdown and people will cry for food like this. While doing this work there is always one fear of not touching one another but the faith of people forces us to overcome with fear and fight for the people.
What is your message to the people?
I believe that It’s high time for India to learn about a healthy society and should get serious with every precaution given by WHO or whatever people think would be important for the individual. He is saluting to every member of the BMC team who is working so hard from day to night especially to sanitizing group.
There is no need to be gripped in fear. We need to battle with this virus especially for the patients who are diabetic, cancer, heart patient, etc who should not step out of their homes.
News Edit by K.V.Raman