Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, May 6: As Karnataka is under lockdown, labourers who arrived from other districts and states have remained in the state itself. Though many have left to their native place, a group of labourers have stayed back in the town respecting the lockdown imposed by the state government.

During the first lockdown, many migrant labourers had left to their native homes not paying heed to the rules put in place by the state and union government. This had increased the cases of infection even in villages. Even now some labourers have gone to their native places from cities. However, a group of labourers stayed back and have been residing near Puttur Mahalingeshwara temple after the announcement of the lockdown.

These labourers operate interesting games like a giant wheel, mini train etc at the temple fair. They had come to Puttur Mahalingeshwara temple for the annual festival. However, on the very next day of completion of temple festivities, they got stuck in the town because of the lockdown announced by the state government.

There are 50 people in the team including children, women and elderly people. They are living in a tent put up at the paddy field by the side of the temple. They have decided to stay back as there is no arrangement for them to go back to their native place. They are being fed by the temple authorities as well as from kind-hearted donors as per the information shared by Bharath, one of the members of the group.

There are people of Mysuru, Hunsur and Maharashtra origin in this herd. There is also a woman who is nine months pregnant. They need around seven trucks to ship the material to their native place, which costs around Rs 2 lac. The reason why they are staying back in the town.