Sonali

Sonali, a 22-year-old housemaid from Pune, undertook a strenuous journey to Satara during the lockdown. Relying on accumulated savings and securing loans, she set off on foot, as informed by neighbors.

The journey, which took 10-11 days, was fraught with scarcity of food, water, and money, leading to severe exhaustion and fatigue. Despite these hardships, Sonali and her family received no support.

Upon reaching her hometown, the lack of satisfactory employment opportunities forced them to return to the city in search of work. She emphasizes the importance of establishing a clear timeline for blue-collar workers to leave cities before lockdowns to avoid such difficulties in the future.