Laxmi Bai

Laxmi Bai, a 62-year-old housemaid from Someshwar Wadi, Pune, traveled to Parbhani during the lockdown. Relying on her savings and loans, she and her family walked continuously for about 15 days to reach their hometown, informed only by neighbors.

The journey was marked by a severe lack of food, water, and financial resources, leading to debility, weakness, fatigue, and exhaustion. They received no support throughout their travel. Upon arrival, they found limited work prospects, prompting a return to the city for employment.

Laxmi Bai stresses the importance of establishing a timeline for blue-collar workers to leave cities before lockdowns, as they received no resources or financial aid during this challenging period.