Walking home from Punjab: Who they are, why they are leaving

Shashi Kant

Shashi kant, 40

Family members: 5
Profession: Works in the lab of a dairy at Ajaitwal in Ludhiana
Earning: Rs 25,000 per month; Headed towards: Aligarh, J&K
Why he left: “Dairy was closed on March 22 and owner asked us to leave after giving 20 days’ salary. I reached Ludhiana after walking 50 km in 7 hours on way to Aligarh.”

Ram Avtar

Ram Avtar, 43

Family members: 5
Profession: Daily wage labourer in Landra, Mohali
Earning: Rs 300 per day; Headed towards: Agra, UP
Why he left: “I didn’t get ant work in last eight days. The money I had is running out. I can’t survive like this.”
Reporting & Photos by kamleshwar singh, Gurmeet singh