Chanda Bai Solanki

Chanda Bai Solanki, a 42-year-old housekeeping and cleaning maid from Someshwar Wadi, Pune, journeyed to Tuptaakdi Village during the lockdown. She managed her finances using accumulated savings and occasional borrowing, with information coming from TV news and YouTube.

The entire journey, lasting 15-20 days, was made primarily on foot due to exorbitant transportation fees, with food and water being scarce. She received no rationing, financial assistance, or health services, and was placed in quarantine upon arrival.

Due to limited job prospects in her native place, Chanda Bai returned to the city for work. She emphasizes the need for a well-communicated evacuation timeline for blue-collar migrants before any future lockdowns to prevent such hardships.