COVID-19 restrictions: Ensure the vulnerable do not face last year’s misery, activists urge Uddhav Thackeray

Hordes of migrant workers left the city last year after the national lockdown hit. File pic

Several civil society organisations together wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, voicing concerns over the new COVID-related restrictions and gave suggestions related to migrant workers, livelihood, healthcare, vaccination, food security, etc.

"There is not much clarity on the state of the crisis faced by migrant workers, daily wage earners and many other workers in the informal sector due to the new restrictions. We have witnessed firsthand the brutality of a complete lockdown on the majority poor population," the letter said.

The letter suggests that "restrictions should be put minimally and only as required, in areas that are most affected, and not in a blanket manner." It added that restrictions should be phased and as per trends and clinical-epidemiological profile of COVID-19.

"It would be more effective to adopt a decentralised approach to deal with the pandemic, in consultation with communities through associations, societies and groups of residents," reads the letter.

Signatory Advocate Lara Jesani said: "We offered the government support from the civil society to consult with communities and experts. The indignity with which migrant workers were left stranded in the earlier national lockdown cannot be allowed again and safe transport for those who want to go home is a must. These assurances need to come from the state."

Jesani concluded: "People in bastis have been unable to access vaccination, either because of misinformation or lack of awareness. Information on vaccination needs to reach urban slum populations."

Another signatory, activist Bilal Khan of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, said, "Markets were being shut down today. This brought back the fear of loss of livelihood and we can sense that the poor are panicking. We have demanded reimposition of rent moratoriums, government shelters, food centres for migrant workers, homeless and poor, livelihood compensation, suspension of utility bills and access to water and healthcare."