ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, May 2: The traders from Jammu & Kashmir currently stranded in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh numbering 120 have appealed the J&K government to immediately evacuate and transport them to their home state.
“Out of the 120 traders, around 40 are stranded in Naharlagun and Itanagar, all hailing from Kupwara district of J&K due to the Covid-19 lockdown,” said Abdul Ahad Ameer, an elderly businessman from Tarpura in Kupwara district. He added that these small-scale businessmen have been visiting the state during the peak winter season every year to sell Kashmiri products such as shawls, carpets, bed sheets, etc. and after spending the October-November months, usually return to J&K in March. 
“Summer is already here and since we are sensitive to the extremely humid climate here, there is a possibility of us getting sick,” Ameer said. 
Another trader expressed helplessness saying that the money earned through the trade here is on the verge of being exhausted and most of the traders are facing difficulty to pay the rent as the summer season has no business to offer. “We are staring at impending starvation if the situation continues like this,” he rued.
“Agricultural season has started in my native place and this is the time when I should be there with my family and not only us, our families back home are also extremely worried,” another trader lamented. 
However, the traders said they were thankful to the state government/district administrations for extending help during the lockdown period.  “We appeal the Jammu & Kashmir government to address our grievance and chalk out strategies for our early evacuation,” all the traders collectively appealed.

However, plight of these migrant J &K traders is not an isolated case of helplessness as in Hollongi more than 75 migrant labourers hired for tower repair works by Starlite, a Tata subsidiary are stuck with no wages and no way of getting back to their home state. Hailing also from different parts of J&K, these labourers are stranded in Arunachal since beginning of the lockdown and are facing untold miseries with struggle even for affording their daily meals.
The unprecedented lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 has already rendered thousands hailing from different states including students and labourers stranded away from their respective home states and it is feared that announcement of the third phase might push these already precarious lives into deeper crisis.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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