The residents of village Jandpur, under the Kharar sub-district of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, has imposed restrictions on migrant workers. Notably, a total of around 2,000 people live in the village, out of which around 500 are migrant workers. The eleven restrictions imposed on migrant workers include a ban on movement after 9 PM, no smoking or chewing tobacco, and others. Multiple display boards were placed across the village explaining the restrictions.
Village In Punjab's Kharar Enforces 9 PM Curfew And Other Restrictions For Migrant Workers#Punjab #Village #Migrant #Curfewhttps://t.co/dzviKSUr6H
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Furthermore, police verification has been made mandatory for migrant workers. The residents who provide accommodation on rent to these migrant workers are now also required to provide them with dustbins. More than two migrant workers will not be allowed to stay in a single room and they cannot roam around in “half attire”. In case the migrant workers are found indulging in illegal activities, the house owners who rented them accommodation would be held responsible.
The list of restrictions came in response to the allegations leveled against the migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The allegations include spitting on roads outside the village Gurudwara, which is considered disrespectful to the Sikh religion. Locals accused migrant workers of roaming around half naked, causing embarrassment to the female residents. Several migrant workers have decided to leave the village following the restrictions. Other workers might follow suit.
Justifying the restrictions, Govinder Singh Cheema, the area councillor, claimed that the rules were imposed not to target the migrant workers but all miscreants. He said that several villagers also create ruckus after drinking alcohol at night and these restrictions would apply to them as well. He added that for the first 15 days, Village Committee members will go door-to-door to inform residents about the restrictions and only after that they will come into effect.
Kharar police and senior administration intervened after they were informed about the restrictions. They questioned with what authority the villagers imposed such restrictions specifically on migrant workers, after which the villagers agreed they would apply equally to everyone.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kharar, Karan Sandhu, said that the police had intervened to ensure peace and they were closely monitoring the situation. Reportedly, earlier Mundo Sangatiyan Village in Mohali barred migrant workers from staying in the village. They had claimed that the children of migrant workers were involved in incidents of theft in the village.
