Manu Bai

Manu Bai, a 57-year-old house cleaning maid from Someshwar Wadi, Pune, traveled to Parbhani during the lockdown. She managed her finances by relying on old savings and occasionally seeking loans, informed only by neighbors. Walking the entire journey, which took 10-12 days, Manu Bai and her family faced hunger, thirst, and a lack of assistance.

They made frequent stops, enduring high transportation costs when available. The journey left them utterly worn out, with limited food, water, and inadequate shelter. Upon arrival, they were quarantined without healthcare support.

Finding a lack of good job options in Parbhani, they returned to the city for work. Manu Bai emphasizes the need for a clear timeline for blue-collar migrants to leave cities before future lockdowns to avoid such hardships.