GUWAHATI, July 2 - Implementation of a strict lockdown may be a way to save the lives of a large section of city dwellers from the pandemic. But for those who are homeless and stay on the city�s footpaths and other public places, this is the most horrific time of their life.
�In the last two days I could not manage anything to eat. On normal days I used to work as a daily wage labourer. But now no one offers me any work. Earlier, during the lockdown some people used to distribute free meals. But this time I have not seen any such initiative,� Ram Prasad, who lives on a footpath in Bamunimaidam area of the city said.
Prasad hails from Bihar and has been living in the city for a long time.
Khagen Barman, a differently-abled person who earns his living by offering his services in some city hotels, said, �With no work and no food, I am now just waiting for death to come during this phase of lockdown. As everyone is scared of the disease, so no one has come out to the streets to offer us food.�
Barman said he lives in Chandmari area of the city and before the lockdown he could not store food items as he had no money to buy them.
Longnit Das from Bongaigaon said, �My owner has stopped paying me and asked me to vacate my room as his hotel has remained closed due to the ongoing pandemic. I am not financially sound to manage a rented house in the city. So finally I chose the footpath as my home. Initially, I used to get food from some NGOs, but during the last four days I have not got anything to eat.� This correspondent found him sleeping at a bus stop near the Guwahati Railway Station.
Bikram Hajitra, a beggar in Machkhowa area of the city said that he is struggling with starvation for the past two days. He hails from Chennai and has been in the city for a long time.
Rina Kalita, who was seen begging in Ganeshguri area on Thursday, alleged that she has not availed any government benefit during the ongoing lockdown as she has no ration card or voter ID.
Jiten Das, who lives on the footpath in Panbazar area, alleged that this morning some people had come to distribute free food, but the police did not allow them to do so.
�Without such helping hands we will die of starvation as all shops are shut now,� Das said.
