GUWAHATI, March 26 - Daily wage labourers are the worst affected due to the nationwide lockdown as it has robbed them of their only means of livelihood. Those working at garages, construction sites, hotels, eateries, not to speak of the rickshaw pullers and handcart pullers, and are finding it extremely difficult to make their ends meet.
Today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a relief package focusing primarily on migrant labourers and daily wage labourers, with the package including a mix of food security and direct cash transfer benefits to shield poor families during the lockdown. But, there are countless daily wage earners who do not have any bank account against their names, and they will not be able to avail the direct cash transfer benefits.
�We have been borrowing money to survive. I have been here for a construction work. Earlier, I used to earn daily and spend daily for my needs. There is no bank account in my name, leave alone an ATM card,� a labourer from Bihar who has been working at a construction site in the city, said.
Another labourer said, �We are five people staying at a rented accommodation in Guwahati. With the entire world coming to a halt, it�s now difficult for us to get work in this city. We, therefore, fervently appeal to the administration to make some arrangements for us to get back home.�
