SHRAMIK TRAINS CONTROVERSY: JUDICIAL INTERVENTION

- Garima Rana

I. INTRODUCTION

Relaxing the absolute suspension of passengers train services, the union Home Ministry on May
1, 2020 permitted movement of migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists and other persons
who were stranded at different placed due to the lockdown by special trains to be operated by the
Railways. The media reports brought a lot of hardships in shramik trains to light.
The ticket booking started two hours late on the first day itself. Some trains got lost and reached
unexpected destinations. After travelling long by bus and waiting for long hours the trains even
got cancelled. Where there was no supply of food and water onboard, the trains took more than a
week to reach the final destination. This caused many people to suffer during the journey and
also caused some deaths. The Human Rights Commission had observed the media reports and if
true, amounts to gross violation of human rights.
II. SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT
In the beginning the train was allowed to carry only 1200 people keeping the middle seats
vacant, but now the train carries 1700 people. People are stranded across the country amid the
COVID-19 lockdown. The action was taken to help the people stuck away from their homes
reach their family. Provisions are made for screening of all passengers at the point of origin and
also for the receiving state to do the same and quarantine them if necessary.

III. DETAILS OF THE CASE

On May 1, the government permitted to run the shramik special trains to help the migrant
workers reach their homes. As on June 3, 58 lakh migrant workers have been transported back to
their homes 4,197 trains. Most of the trains originated from Gujarat and Maharashtra and
terminated in states Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Out of 3,840 trains, 71 trains were diverted during
20-24 May due to congestion. Trains were diverted so that all can reach on time but instead led
to delay. Among the originating-states, for which trains were diverted were Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan. The railways has come under criticism over the delay and
diversion of several Shramik trains in recent days . A Gorakhpur-bound Shramik Special train
from Maharashtra ended up in Rourkela, Odisha adding two days and five states to the original
journey, leaving its passengers clueless.
 IV. BACKGROUND
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi , declared a nation
wide lockdown for 21 days. The lockdown was further extended with some modifications; the
country is still in lockdown. The lockdown affected the country’s economy and also the life’s of
people in India. The daily wage workers suffered as there was no work for them, markets were
shutdown affecting the income of workers there. Lots of people were stuck away from their
homes where they worked. Having no source of income and no money for daily essentials, these
workers were stuck in different states due restriction on interstate moment. The order issued by
the home secretary The government decided to launch the shramik special trains on Labor day
and help these people get back to their homes to their families and can survive the pandemic.

V. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The matter brought political controversy with the opposing party blaming the centre for charging
fares from the migrant workers. The special trains were started to help the people and were
charged from Rs 20 to Rs 30 which included meals, water and other essentials. The sending
states were ordered to transport the people to the railway station in sanitized buses following
social distancing norms.

VI. PROBABLE FUTURE

Indian Railways has been drawing flak over the last few days because of the inordinate delay of
Shramik Special trains caused by route congestion and also because of the inadequate supply of
food and water. Reports of the deaths of some passengers have triggered concerns over the lack
of basic necessities amid the intense heat wave. The demand of trains from the originating state
has dropped due to a number of reason after almost 5 lakh migrant workers have been
transported back to their home state.

VII. CONCLUSION
The authorities said that the delay in reaching the final destinations was caused due to the traffic
congestion. The reports say that only 1.85% of the total trains were diverted between May 20 and
May 24 as maximum numbers of trains were run during that time. There is no excuse for the
leniency of government and the railways that has caused such inconvenience to the passengers
and also has caused some deaths. Railways are trying to accommodate almost all requests
received from the sending states and are ready to meet all demand of Shramik movements. They
will be running Shramik Trains for as long as they are needed and each and every migrant will be
transported