Pune positive: As work resumes, 380 migrants skip 2 trains

Pune, May 11 () Three hundred migrant labourerswith permission to board a Shramik Special train from Pune toMadhya Pradesh did not report at departure on Sunday, and 80for a train to Uttarakhand on Monday, with local officialsclaiming these were "positive" signs due to the reopening ofseveral industries in the region.

An official said 1,172 people had got permission totravel on the train to MP but 300, mostly working in the MIDCarea here, did not turn up when it left from Daund station.

"These people have claimed they chose not to move asthey were getting work in MIDC areas here. The firms therealso know they will suffer if workers move so may have offeredincentives," said Daund Tehsildar Sanjay Patil.

He said a train which left for Uttarakhand on Mondayalso had 80 absentees, with all of them claiming there was noneed to go back to their native villages as work had startedhere.

Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram said, "Thisis actually a positive sign. Opening industries in MIDC areasand giving permission for construction work in non-containmentareas have created a positive atmosphere among labourers. Thatis why they are preferring to stay back."

Patil said officials had to call up those on the"waitlist" to ensure the trains did not leave below sanctionedcapacity.

Jwala Prasad, one of the 300 who gave the MP train amiss, said he did not move as the plant in Kurmukh MIDC wherehe worked as an operator had resumed operations.

"I have been living here with my wife and two childrenfor 10 years. We even filed forms to board the Shramik Specialbut then dropped the plan as work at my company resumed," hesaid. SPKBNM BNM