Last night at around 12.30 AM, I went out to buy some medicines since community medical store was closed. I saw hundreds of people walking barefooted on Pune- Bangalore highway carrying their small children on one side and heavy bags over their head. Looking at them, I stopped my car and asked them, where are they going and whether they had food and why they are walking instead of taking special train or bus which government has arranged for them. And the response was, they went to offices for three days & they didn’t get any help/solution. Different people told different things & finally they decided to walk. Last meal they had was yesterday night and they were walking towards their native place which is 100Km ahead of Hyderabad.

Looking at their condition, I started searching for a dhaba. Since it was a national highway and some dhabas remain open for trucks and goods carrier all throughout, I drove for almost 9km and then discovered one small shanty and asked whether they can make food for 200-300 people and I was willing to pay 50 Rs per meal. He refused saying that, he neither has enough staff nor material to feed them all. I drove further and explored for another 20-25km and could not find even a single dhaba.

I had promised them that I will arrange food for them and also write/tweet to government/local administration which may help them in getting some transport back to Hyderabad.

I didn’t know how to go back and tell/face them specially when people are hungry for over more than 24 hours. I started feeling the excruciating pain deep within me and some level of guilt as well. Somehow I gathered the courage and did go back to them and told them the truth. I can see how hope immediately turned into despair. I had few Haldiram snacks and water bottle in my car, I gave them all. Also when I checked my wallet, had Rs 9700 cash and gave 200 Rs to each family with hope and anticipation that they will soon find a dhaba where they all can break their 24 hours plus fast.

I came back home at around 2.45am and was continuously thinking. The images of the 8-months-old little baby kept on coming right in front of my eyes. Whole night I was restless because I wanted to help and could not help.

I have been hearing/watching the difficulties and plight of migrant labourers on media so far and it was merely an intellectual concept for me so far however, I must say last night experience shook me completely and it was hard core and life altering experience.

Writer (Mayur Satyavrat) is Co-Founder & CEO of Emsus Pvt Ltd, a PHD scholar with Indian Business School (ISB Hyderabad) & a senior leadership coach. He works is the area of Multi-stakeholder based Large System change, OD & HR strategy, Future of work, Organization & Leadership, Organization culture, sustainability & value creation, Board dynamics & governance. Prior to this, he had worked for over 20 years as director HR & Chief Learning/Talent officer with organization like Viacom18, RBL Bank, TATA, MetLife, Amway & Kinetic Honda. He an Alumni of ISB, UC Berkeley & Case western Reserve.

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