COVID 19 has landed like a heavy blow on the state economy as well as on the administration. However, the Rajasthan government is handling the situation with quiet precision. It is only during these times that sentiments of good governance are augmented. Since the lockdown period started, the state administration has been diligent to save as many lives as possible while arranging food and shelter for the needy. We know that the daily wagers are the ones who form the most helpless section of the population and need maximum attention. However, one other factor that adds to their misery is the distance from their homes. Most of them are part of a diaspora that hails from different states or different villages within Rajasthan.

Establishing a functional help system could not be an overnight task. The govt. of Rajasthan has been considerate and reaching out to migrants who are stuck in all the different parts. They have been making sure that these people do not stay deprived of any food, shelter and everyday needs.

During this period of the great ordeal, the chief minister also ensured sufficient arrangement of screening, social distancing, and cleanliness. He has been making sure that proper buses or even train can be run to make them reach home safely.

Appeals to the Center

The government is fully aware of the fact that these high-strung locked away people need nothing more than reaching to their own homes. Following this, the state chief minister has been consistently asking the centre to provide a functional plan to conduct their journey. Not just for Rajasthan, he appealed for a unified scheme for all states to move these people, maybe via a dedicated special train that is safe and maintained.

Expenditure on Migrants

To actively run the quarantine centres spread across Rajasthan a budget allotment has also been set. As per the instructions of the Disaster Management & Relief Department, the state set a daily spending bar of Rs. 2400 per person on COVID 19 quarantine centres. This sum has been divided as follows – Rs. 600 for food and beverages, Rs. 100 for breakfast, Rs. 180 for lunch and dinner, Rs. 80 for water, Rs. 60 for tea and snacks, Rs. 60 for laundry and clothing.

To ensure the smooth running of these centres, the govt. assigned the power to the ACS (Additional Chief Secretary).

Migrants Painted the Walls

Gratitude is not an opinion; it is a reaction to the situation, situations that bring the best or the worst out of people. News pieces like – ‘Migrants painted quarantine schools, explains their gratified ethos towards the state government. Away from their roots, quarantined in the public shelters, the immigrants are a point of talk on the common earth land that humankind share together. Thanks to the authorities, they have been able to find an oasis in the desert. With 3 meal arrangement, proper distancing, health screening, we can say that the state govt. didn’t take them as a burden during the crisis. They have been as much a responsibility as all the other state natives.

Residing in a non-native place makes this diaspora heavily dependent on the kindness of inhabitants and the authority. After this long juggle, they might even pen down emotive personal stories inspired from a demanding time of the century – possibly including the considerate facilities provided by the state govt.

While the journey through the tunnel seems rugged, the state is apparently becoming a light-bearer for more than 24000 luckless immigrants.

Returning Home

On April 27^th, the state govt. launched the registration portal to invite entries from outside the state and within two hours a number of 29000 migrants got the details registered. With the help of the helpline number – 18001806127, the authority is doing everything possible to make the communication as unhindered as possible. Digital portals like e-Mitra, e-Mitra mobile app e-Mitra kiosk are also working at the full pace to address all the entries and queries coherently.

Once again, the government is being utterly considerate of their survival as well as the emotional needs. Following this, CM Ashok Gehlot appealed to state people that these migrants need moral support just like an important medicine.

Rajasthan has been the most empathetic for incomers as well as movers which is none inferior to winning half of the battle against COVID. After all, the risk of life is not coming only from the virus. A shuddering state order also needs skilled minds and an unwavering plan of action.