Migrant Worker Cycles 1700 Km From Maharashtra To Odisha
20-year-old Mahesh Jena has succeeded in cycling for a distance of 1,700 km from Maharashtra’s Sangli to Odisha’s Jajpur. After completing the duration of the quarantine, Mahesh has now reached his home.
He was employed at a company in Sangli for Rs 8,000 per month but after the lockdown, he was not paid his salary and was left dealing with a food crisis.
That’s when he decided to go to this home in Jajpur. Mahesh says, “I borrowed Rs 3,000 from a friend and started out from Sangli on April 1. During the journey, there were several days when I did not find anything to eat and on some days, I sated my hunger by eating food at roadside ‘dhabas’ (restaurants). My cycle got punctured in Hyderabad and despite facing many such difficulties, I finally succeeded in reaching Jajpur on April 7.” After arriving in Jajpur, Mahesh surrendered before the district administration; he was then taken to the quarantine centre. He has now been released after completing the duration of the quarantine. Mahesh remembers his 1,700-km-long journey and says, “At night, I had to find a safe place, such as a temple, to sleep in. Police personnel used to stop me at the borders of states but they would let me pass when I told them that I am coming from Maharashtra.” Mahesh cycled continuously for 14-15 hours daily and covered the distance of 1,700 km in seven days. Each day, he covered a distance of 200-250 km on his cycle. Like Mahesh, thousands of labourers have started out for their homes located hundreds of kilometres away after the lockdown was imposed. Among them, while a majority have managed to reach their homes, there are some who have passed away while still en route.
That’s when he decided to go to this home in Jajpur. Mahesh says, “I borrowed Rs 3,000 from a friend and started out from Sangli on April 1. During the journey, there were several days when I did not find anything to eat and on some days, I sated my hunger by eating food at roadside ‘dhabas’ (restaurants). My cycle got punctured in Hyderabad and despite facing many such difficulties, I finally succeeded in reaching Jajpur on April 7.” After arriving in Jajpur, Mahesh surrendered before the district administration; he was then taken to the quarantine centre. He has now been released after completing the duration of the quarantine. Mahesh remembers his 1,700-km-long journey and says, “At night, I had to find a safe place, such as a temple, to sleep in. Police personnel used to stop me at the borders of states but they would let me pass when I told them that I am coming from Maharashtra.” Mahesh cycled continuously for 14-15 hours daily and covered the distance of 1,700 km in seven days. Each day, he covered a distance of 200-250 km on his cycle. Like Mahesh, thousands of labourers have started out for their homes located hundreds of kilometres away after the lockdown was imposed. Among them, while a majority have managed to reach their homes, there are some who have passed away while still en route.
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