The first batch of 180 migrants from Jharkhand, stranded in Mumbai for over two months due to the coronavirus lockdown, were brought to Ranchi on a specially chartered plane. The flight took off from Mumbai Airport and landed on Birsa Munda Aiport at 8:30 am.
The line of 180 migrant labourers began at 2 am on the Mumbai International Airport. All of them arrived at six within the morning to fly by Air Asia plane.
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The alumni network of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, along with NGOs and activists who have leased an AirAsia aircraft to shift 180 migrant workers who hail from various districts of Jharkhand. This is the first time where a group of private individuals have raised funds to lease a chartered plane and rescue stranded migrant workers.
Priyanka Raman of the NLSIU alumni association, said, “We knew that there were many migrants in the city who were living in hard conditions and were desperate to leave for their home town. Our activist association had the list of migrants and since train services have become an issue, we decided to send them by air. The entire fund for airfare and transportation was arranged by the alumni association.”
“It took only one day to collect money from our friends. Basic expense of Rs 11 lakh was collected within hours of sending the message on Whatsapp,” said Suhaan Mukherjee, National Law School alumn.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren stated that it’s a matter of happiness that the diaspora of the state are returning by aircraft. Two extra planes will land Ranchi quickly to deliver again the stranded individuals in Andaman. He says that the price of air journey is borne by the state authorities.
