Phulia, April 29: The first batch of such 150 migrant weavers got the opportunity to return home when the District administration arranged six buses of South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) which left Phulia for Tufanganj and Coochbehar at 4 pm in presence of local Trinamul MLA Arindam Bhattacharya. Prior to boarding the buses, the migrant weavers had to undergo a medical screening.
Nadia District Magistrate Vibhu Goel said, “We prepared a list of the migrant weavers and arranged to send them back home only if they are found having no suspected symptoms of Covid. Since most of these laborers are from Coochbehar, we have already talked to concerned district administration so that do not face any problem after reaching home. The police and district authorities on their route have also been informed about the journey who have assured cooperation. More such buses will leave from Phulia during in the next few days”.
Trinamul MLA Arindam Bhattacharya said, “Ensuring safe distancing complying with the Covid management protocol only 25 persons have been allowed to board a bus. The district administration has done a marvelous job. It has also arranged food for the laborers for the journey”.
The migrant weavers came to work during January this year, but stranded since lockdown was announced. Around two hundred weavers have already left on cycles, but many of them were stopped by police on the way in Murshidabad and North Dinajpur district, sources said.