-Sher Bahadur Singh

Suraj Singh Karki, a Nepali migrant worker in Mumbai, has turned a saviour by helping other Nepali fellows stuck in Mumbai due to lockdown imposed by the government in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. He has gone out of his way and lent help to the trapped Nepali migrants. "I returned to work in Mumbai four months ago from my home after completing my leave vacation. Earning money aside, I am finding it difficult to survive here," he said in a pale voice by telephone. Karki of Dodhara Chandani in Kanchanpur district works as a chef at a hotel at Dadara in Mumbai for the past six years. Currently, he is providing shelter to four Nepali men of Dodhara Chandani trapped in lockdown. Many daily Nepali wagers of Kanchanpur, Kailali and Baitadi districts have been stranded due to lockdown, he said. "Most of them have been kicked out by their landlords. Where else they along with their family can go as they have none here to support?"

So far, approximately 300 Nepalis from Sudurpaschim State who have been stranded have come in contact, he said, adding that they are waiting for a rescue from the Government of Nepal.

Karki has uploaded video clips or posts about predicaments facing by Nepali migrant workers in Mumbai and surrounding areas on social networking sites. "We are trying to support them through the help of social sites. We urge concerned authorities to initiate our rescue,"

"We are also concerned about coronavirus risks. We would pay transportation fair if the Government of Nepal manages transportation for us to return home."

As said by Jagdish Bhandari of Baitadi, 60 Nepali workers have left stranded in Mumbai. They are forced to stay days and nights in an overcrowded hotel staff rooms. They are unable to visit pharmacies to buy medicines when their colleagues fall sick. Rajendra Chand of Dodhara Chandani, Kanchanpur said he was undue pressure from the owner of a hotel where he works to survive life because of lockdown. ” Until now there is no problem of food and accommodation, but yesterday I was told by the owner to go home citing that lockdown could go longer.” He works at the Mumbai-based Andheri Hotel. As he said, it was his compulsion not to attempt to cross the border in search for jobs. It was for the security of his family. He had reached Mumbai three months ago. He feels the government’s responsibility to initiate to address problems of Nepali migrant workers facing during this crisis. He expects the government to coordinate with the Indian Government for food and shelter for stranded Nepali community. ”It seems that Nepali community will not get medical treatment in case of illness.” Similarly, Janakraj Bhatta of Beldandi-3, Kanchanpur reports that he is in trouble in Mumbai as he has been asked by his employer to go home, citing potential extension of lockdown. According to him, he tries to contact with the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, but the call was neither received nor responded. ” It the call is ‘accidentally’ received, we got no response from there.” Prior to this, many Nepalis facing hard times in India had their complaints against the Nepali Embassy.

New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Punjab, Haridwar, Lohaghat and Pithauragarh are major job markets for many people from Sudupaschim and Karnali states. According to the Sudurpaschim state government, 143 thousand Nepali had returned home from their major job destinations in India in the aftermath of spread of coronavirus in India. Among them, one from Bedkot municipality in Kanchanpur and one from Lamki Chuwa municipality of Kailali have tested positive for the virus. Both are being treated at Seti State Hospital, Dhangadhi. Over 1,100 Nepali people have been quarantined in the areas from Darchula to Tanakpur of Kanchanpur and Banbasa. ( photo available)