Ray of hope for Nepalese workers stuck at border
LUCKNOW: Hundreds of Nepalese citizens stuck on no man’s land that divides the international border between Uttar Pradesh and Nepal for over 20 days now may return home after the UP government on Monday announced that it will take up the issue with external affairs ministry. Additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi, said, “The UP government has decided to take up the issue of the return of the Nepali citizens stranded on the UP-Nepal international border with the external affairs ministry.”
Thousands of Nepali citizens working in various Indian states rushed home after the announcement of nationwide lockdown on March 25 to check spread of Covid pandemic.
They were stranded on the international border after the government of both the countries sealed it. Later, on the humanitarian ground large numbers of Nepalese citizens were permitted to cross the border. The flow of Nepalese citizens eager to reach home continued to the international border in Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar and Sharvasti districts. The administration of the three districts quarantined the Nepali citizens in the schools located near the border. Later, 300 Nepalese citizens were permitted to cross the border.
The Nepalese citizens working in UP, Maharashtra, Delhi and other states accompanied the migrants to reach home in Nepal but were stopped on international border. In Siddharthnagar district, hundreds of Nepali citizens are stuck on the international border near Bhilmi, Hardauna, Rangpur, Gaura, Shivlakha and Naka villages since April 20. Nepal border police are not permitting them to move into Nepal while Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) deployed there is not allowing them to move toward the villages or town located in UP. Rendered helpless, the Nepalese migrant workers have made makeshift shelters on the no man’s land. In large numbers, they have taken shelter under the trees located on the border.
Bishal Suwal, a migrant worker, said, “We are surviving on food and drinking water supplied by villagers & SSB jawans.”
A district administration officer said, “We are alert after the arrival of migrants in large numbers. Majority of them have arrived from Mumbai, Delhi and Indore that have been declared red zones.” “Only those who have been screened and completed 14-day quarantine are permitted entry,” he said.