On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown across India to contain the spread of Covid-19. Shortly after, hundr...
On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day lockdown across India to contain the spread of Covid-19. Shortly after, hundreds of thousands of daily-wage labourers began long and desperate journeys – often on foot – towards their homes. Some of them, such as 32-year Dashrath Yadav, had already got an inkling of the situation. On March 23, Yadav left Ahmedabad in Gujarat along with 12 other men for Bhimsour village in Rajasthan’s Banswara district, a journey of 240 km. They walked 90 km and got rides the rest of the way.
Yadav, who had barely eaten and had swollen feet, finally reached home by the night of March 25. Shortly after, he told Scroll.in about the hardships of the journey.
On Sunday, Scroll.in contacted Yadav again to find out what his life has been like since he returned. Yadav has isolated himself, as per the instructions of local authorities. His feet have healed, but, in this interview translated from the Hindi, he spoke about the bigger worries to face. His neighbours have been regarding him with suspicion even though he has tested negative for the novel coronavirus. And he wonders if he will he have a job after the lockdown is lifted.
‘I am in self-quarantine’
“My feet are fine now. I have two houses, half...
