Workers walk from Ri Bhoi to reach relief camp

SHILLONG: Many migrant labourers walked all the way from Umran and Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi to reach a relief camp in the city.
They are currently housed in the COVID-19 relief camp at old building of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Lawmali.
The caretaker of the relief camp said there are 129 workers in the camp who are from different districts of Meghalaya. They are mostly from Garo Hills districts and a few of them are from Assam.
Robbie Rabha and Biswajit Rabha from Tikrikilla, who had worked at fast food restaurants in Ri Bhoi, said that they walked from Umran and Nongpoh respectively. “Twelve of us walked from Ri Bhoi to reach the camp as there were no other means to come to Shillong, the duo said at the relief camp.
The government has identified vendors to cater to their food supply.
The caretaker said that their account numbers were taken to ensure that they can avail the Rs 1000 fund from the government.
Most of the labourers worked in local restaurants, hotels and some were carpenters.
“There are 18 labourers from Assam while 90 per cent are from Garo Hills”, the caretaker said.