Ratanpur turns a lifeline for migrants entering Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Long queues of migrant workers waiting for their registration and screening at the Ratanpur checkpost on Gujarat border is signalling a crisis-like situation.
Every day, hundreds of workers gather at the border to enter Rajasthan. They have to wait for at least one day before they can be ferried to their respective cities in state transport buses. This leaves them with limited food and no facilities.
The border was opened on April 26 for those coming from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh having valid permissions.The news spread like wildfire in the industrial hubs of Gujarat which triggered mass exodus of workers and their families. While some rushed to the border on foot, others rode bicycles to reach the destination.
Rajesh Nayak, SDO, Bichhiwara, said that they have bolstered the screening teams by 60 at the border to expedite the clearance. “Such a huge gathering is unexpected, but we made arrangements which are required to minimize the waiting time of the migrants,” said Sharma.
He added that officially 28,000 migrants have entered the state.
“The officials initially denied entry to those coming without any permission but on realising that they were entering into the state via villages forced them to open gates for all of them,” said Krashnaraj Singh, block president of Congress in Bichhiwara, who is helping the migrants.