It is 11:45 AM, and the temperature is soaring above 40 degrees Celsius when Mallikarjuna sees a group of fifteen people approaching him on bicycles.

Mallikarjuna, a regional director at Rural Development Trust (RDT), and his team have set up a small post beside the Bangalore-Hyderabad Highway to provide basic provisions to migrant workers who are traversing the country.

©Mallikarjuna/RDT

“We left Bangalore two days ago and we are heading towards Uttar Pradesh,” explains Govinda, a migrant worker helping himself to a refreshment. All of traveling individuals worked in restaurants, hotels and as cleaning staff in Bangalore, but when the lockdown started on March 25th, they stopped. With the job hiatus came a standstill in salary and sources of survival. “The situation in Bangalore was very bad for us, so we got together and bought second-hand bicycles,” Govinda states.

“We cycle during the day because we have no lights, but nights are not safe either. The other day, a group of people beat us up while sleeping because they said we were in their property. That made me feel very bad,” confesses Govinda. However, the generosity of people along the journey helps them overcome the dejection. “We are able to continue this journey thanks to the people of the nearby villages who offer us food,” he adds with gratitude.

A group from Bihar queueing to get some snacks ©Rameshwary/RDT

They hope to reach Uttar Pradesh in twenty days, and they are reluctant to ask for help. “They do not trust anybody. What they are going though it is upsetting,” clarifies Mallikarjuna.

When Govinda is asked why he decided to start this journey rather than wait, the reply comes instantly: “If I die, I want to die in my village, with my family. Then I will be happy.”

The situation repeats itself in other points along this national highway. The people may have different locations, destinations, and names, but they all have the same desire: to reach home and be with their families.

“It is especially tough for the women. They are not only carrying all their belongings with them but also small children,” says Rameshwary, RDT Regional Director of Madaksira. “The other day, on the way to my office I saw a lady carrying a one-year old boy and a three-year-old girl in her arms and walking next to her a 5-year-old boy. None of them were wearing shoes, and especially the woman looked extremely exhausted, about to faint.  The husband was way ahead carrying the luggage. I stopped the car immediately,” Rameshwary explains.

Shantama (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) and her family were part of a group of 75 people who – after days of not being paid by their contractor – decided to start their way back home from Madakasira to Aadhanki Mandal in Prakasam district, 435 km away. “I brought her and her family to my office; I got them shoes and food. We found the rest of the group and I immediately got in touch with the police who agreed to arrange their journey back home.”

While the arrangements were being made over a course of three days, the whole group stayed at a Government school, and RDT provided them with cooked meals. “The Government arranged their transport and conducted COVID-19 testing for them, all of which were negative,” Rameshwary adds. “Before leaving, Shantama told me something that gave meaning to all the suffering that we are witnessing these days: ‘Many people saw me but no one stopped to help, except you. We, women, are for the immediate action; thank you for caring for me’”.

RDT staff providing food and refreshments for the individuals walking on the national highway in Rapthadu ©Narayan Reddy/RDT

“We come across groups of migrants on a daily basis – we provide them with food and inform them about the possibilities that the Government has arranged for them to go back home. We are constantly in touch with the Mandal Revenue Offices but more than anything, it is important to treat them with the dignity and respect that any person deserves,” Rameshwary states.

RDT is supplementing the Government´s efforts to facilitate the return of all such people to their homes. During this complex situation, the authorities and Government officials are doing their best to ensure reliable transport for all those willing to travel.

“Yesterday, we got a request from the District Authorities to make 5,000 chapatis and 1,500 packets of aloo chole for a group who were travelling back to Uttar Pradesh by the Shramik Special train. Today 750 people are leaving to Patna and we have to prepare provisions for them as well,” explains Visha Ferrer, Director of Women Empowerment and coordinator of the food distribution program.  She happily declares, “We are glad to be able to play a role in tackling this crisis.”

RDT staff, Ramesh, distributes food packages and fruits in Anantapur Railway Station © Felita Viegas/RDT.

“My brother and I were working in a printing factory in Hindupur. Since the lockdown, it has been a struggle to feed ourselves and our family,” says Deepak, 33, who is traveling back with seven members, two of whom are children below 5 years of age. “Some NGOs, individuals, and local authorities kept distributing meals and provisions. That is how we have mainly managed. I am happy to be going back home,” he says with a faint smile.

Visha Ferrer giving a food package and a face mask at the Anantapur Railway Station before the departure of the Shramik Special train. ©Felita Viegas/RDT

Currently, we are witnessing an unprecedented healthcare crisis which has left millions of people in distress. Those very people who are key to building our societies through their hard work and service are the most vulnerable ones. We are continuously supporting the Government’s efforts in providing relief. Help us to reach out to all those severely affected during this pandemic by supporting VFF USA COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Text: Felita Viegas and Aina Valldaura, adapted by Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA