Pune based Assamese Organization facilitates movement of 1400+ migrant workers

Pune, May 24, 2020: From providing essentials and meals for thousands in distress to arranging a train for those from Assam stranded in Pune ASOMI has left no stone unturned to support the needy. At this moment of national distress due to the current COVID pandemic, where the plight of the migrant labours and those economically affected has been making everyone sad and tearful – the Assamese diaspora in Pune, under the organizational banner of ASOMI sprang into action as soon as the lockdown was announced by the Government.

Fearing that many of the Assamese diasporas may face hardships in the lockdown due to absence of job or food, ASOMI immediately published an area-wise list of volunteers with their contact details via social media. Every area of the city, including both municipal corporations and rural areas, were covered. But the SOS calls started growing exponentially – starting with just a few calls on Day 1 to thousands of people over the next few days who reached out to the organization for support and relief during this pandemic.

Though a voluntary organization with limited funds, the ASOMI team did not hesitate and provided relief and materials in all parts of the city and beyond. The testing times like this brings out the true noble souls amongst us, who despite having families and with no obligation, without any monetary or selfish gains, rise above the others to serve humanity. One such was Mr Rajumoni Borah, who despite having family and two kids, took the noble mission of serving relief materials to over 1200 needy migrants labours or those in need in Pune.

The other Executive members such as Dr Samiron Phukan, Rajib Borkataki, Col Tarun Borah (Rtd) and many others coordinated with the authorities such as Assam Bhavan Mumbai, Assam Government, and the Pune Police for permissions for providing relief and also getting support in gathering relief material. In addition to helping the Assamese community, the organization also distributed around 250 packets to the needy and stranded on the roadside in different areas.

However, with the extension of the lockdown, those stranded in Pune – Students, Patients, Tourist, and Migrant Workers who lost their jobs – were running out of relief materials, food and essentials. They started panicking and making calls to ASOMI to arrange and send them to Assam. Dr Samiron Phukan, Rajib Borkataki, Col Tarun Borah (Rtd) and other able volunteers and members started collecting information of those stranded or those who needed to get back to Assam using social media, WhatsApp, and direct calls. The first list of 567 people comprising patients, elderly, migrant workers, students, and working professionals stranded in Pune was prepared in record time despite difficulties in coordination due to the lockdown period and was duly submitted to the Government Authorities in Assam.

ASOMI team did not just stop at submitting the list to the Govt but also continued to follow up repeatedly and as a result, finally, on 10th May, Government Authorities in Assam called back to confirmed that they would start the process to raise a requisition for a train. Despite having a regular day job, Dr Samiron Phukan and Rajib Borkataki rendered sleepless nights and worked tirelessly. Rajib Borkataki’s phone number went on to become Assam Government’s helpline number for those stranded in Pune! Since the response from Assam Government was initially slow, Team ASOMI reached out to the District Collectorate Office on 14th May, to initiate a discussion with the Government of Assam for expediting the process for arranging for a train.

They in turn duly supported ASOMI and sent an email to the Government of Assam to send them the list of people. That same evening, the Assam Government officials reached out to ASOMI and asked for a revised list after adding a few more details for each passenger. They also mentioned that without the complete data, the names will be dropped from the final list and the deadline to submit the revised data given as the midnight, which was 5 hours away and more than 1500 people from the list were to be contacted!! The team worked overnight, got the revised date together and shared the updated list.

This process saw a lot of effort from one volunteer Mriganka Das, who took the responsibility to contact all the students to gather their data overnight. Finally, on 21st May morning – the Assam Government officials informed ASOMI that a train had been arranged for 22nd May and they would be informing the passengers. ASOMI immediately reached out to the District Collectorate officials and Pune Police to prepare the logistics. Pune Police and Rural Police also started calling up the migrant workers to assign them coupons to be produced on arrival at the Pune Railways Station. They also arranged for vehicles to ferry all the token holders to the Railway station on 22nd May.

From ASOMI, Col Tarun Borah (Retd), Chiranjeeb Sarma and Rajumoni Borah led the volunteer team at the Pune Railways Station to manage the 1400 strong crowd and keep them as a group and peaceful. Some last-minute arrival at the station were also accommodated, including – including two girls who had been thrown out by their landlords in Pune; and few people from Meghalaya who had to reach home urgently. The list also included 25 children from Assam who had come for a sponsored program at the NGO-Dakshana.

Finally, with coordination and help of the Railways, the District Collectorate, Pune Police, and the Govt of Assam, ASOMI was able to send 1416 stranded people from Pune to Assam. During the entire process, great help was extended by Shri Vishal Solanki, IAS, Commissioner Higher Education, Govt of Maharashtra, who even coordinated with the Railways to add more bogies to accommodate the entire list of people. There was also exceptional support and cooperation from the Nodal Office, Assam in this whole matter.

It is to be noted that ASOMI had always been extremely active with their support for various social causes on various occasions, including the flood in 2019 when ASOMI donated to the aid of flood-affected people through CM’s Flood Relief Fund for Assam and Sakal’s Flood Relief Fund for Maharashtra. ASOMI has been working towards bridging the gap between the North East and Maharashtra by undertaking many sociocultural activities. The activities are organized by the members of the Assamese community residing in Pune and also by inviting artists and prominent personalities from Assam and other states of the North East to showcase the rich cultural heritage and spread awareness about Assam and North East in the region.