Putul Pal

Putul Pal, a 38-year-old housemaid from Pune, undertook a difficult journey to Digha in West Bengal during the lockdown. Relying on her savings, she started her journey on foot, hoping to find vehicles on the highway. Her husband learned about the lockdown from friends. With no instructions or regular transportation, they walked long distances and received occasional lifts from passersby. The journey, which took 20-25 days, was marked by food and water scarcity, exhaustion, and ad hoc shelter. Despite some help with food and lifts, they received no formal support or relief.

Finding no decent work at home, Putul returned to the city for employment, hoping to avoid such hardships in the future.