SUNDARAYYA Skill Development Centre, a three-storied building in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh has been turned into a shelter for migrant workers. This building at Vaddeswaram has become a shelter for 47 migrant workers belonging to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of AP, bordering Odisha. Due to lockdown, these workers lost their livelihood and decided to go back to their native places in AP. They were coming from Chennai on foot as there was no travel facility. But the pedestrians were stopped by the police in Guntur district in the last week of April after a travel of about 400 kilometres.

All the migrant workers were stationed at Sundarayya Skill Development Centre on the instructions of district administration. They have been served food provided by the local donors. “We are utilising the three floors with all amenities”, said Srinivas reddy, tahasildar, Thadepalli. He congratulated Prajasakti Sahitee Sanstha for providing such spacious building for Covid relief operations. “We are accessing all facilities, that we can’t have even in our home”, said Lakshmi, a migrant worker. She said that they could retain confidence after getting into the building. Another migrant Sreerama Srinu expressed his happiness for being provided food and shelter but appealed the authorities to send them to their native places at the earliest.

It may be recalled that CPI(M) state committee offered the state government to utilise the party offices and other buildings under trusts for relief operations or otherwise for anti Covid operations. It also informed the government that volunteers have also been enlisted to participate in those operations. The government is utilising the skill development centre for the migrant workers.