This story is from June 9, 2021

Unlock 2.0: People that keep Delhi running trickle in, for work and to meet loved ones

With the Covid-19 lockdown being gradually relaxed, migrant workers are beginning to return to the city. At the three inter-state bus terminals at Anand Vihar, Kashmere Gate and Sarai Kale Khan, TOI found migrants arriving again, some for work, some to be reunited with their families. Most of them were handicapped by the unavailability of DTC buses to reach their destinations.
Unlock 2.0: People that keep Delhi running trickle in, for work and to meet loved ones
Migrants at Kashmiri Gate ISBT on Tuesday — Tarun Rawat
NEW DELHI: With the Covid-19 lockdown being gradually relaxed, migrant workers are beginning to return to the city.
At the three inter-state bus terminals at Anand Vihar, Kashmere Gate and Sarai Kale Khan, TOI found migrants arriving again, some for work, some to be reunited with their families. Most of them were handicapped by the unavailability of DTC buses to reach their destinations.
At Anand Vihar, bag in hand, Aman, 19, freshly back from Aligarh, was bargaining with autorickshaw drivers for a ride to Karol Bagh.
“I had gone home for a wedding but did not come back because of the lockdown. I am a laser mechanic,” said Aman. “Recently, I spoke to my employer, who said things were opening up and that he was more than willing to take me back. So I took the first bus and came here.”
Kishan Kanhaiya of Gonda was similarly looking for transport to outer Delhi. Kanhaiya works as a craftsman at furniture shops. “My friends informed me they were returning to Delhi since the lockdown was over and factories had opened. Apart from my work at the furniture factories, I also work with tent houses, so I am hoping to find work quickly,” said a cheerful Kanhaiya.
A disappointed Sonu, however, was searching for a ride back home. “I live in Bulandshahr and do jobs like painting, stitching and cooking too. I came to Delhi from Punjab with friends to see if I could find a job to be able to stay close to my family,” said Sonu. “But there's nothing available at the moment. I am returning home and will perhaps try again later.”
At Sarai Kale Khan, auto and cab drivers told TOI that in the past three days, many workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had been coming back to Delhi. Saroj had arrived from Mathura to go to her daughter’s home. “She lost her husband and has three children,” said Saroj, who had had to put off this trip till the lockdown was relaxed. “She can now resume work while I will take care of the children.”

Brothers Sameer and Armaan had gone back to their sister’s house in Haryana. Sameer said, “Our parents live in Delhi, but we went to Haryana to assist our sister’s family and also because there was no work in Delhi. I help my brother, Sameer, who is a motorcycle mechanic in Seemapuri.”
Some workers at Kashmere Gate were looking for buses to other destinations in north India. Shambhu, resident of Begusarai in Bihar, was happy at the lockdown being relaxed. “I pick up jobs in paper mills in Uttar Pradesh cities as and when they come,” smiled Shambhu. “I am glad to be back because it’s difficult to find jobs when you’re sitting at home.”
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