Around 80 graduates from the National Law School (NLS) in Bengaluru collected money to charter a flight for migrants stuck in Mumbai. On Thursday, the flight left Mumbai Airport’s T2 (Terminal 2) at 6 AM to Ranchi carrying 180 passengers who were unable to get back to their home state. Air Asia operated this flight, which now has the honour of flying the first crowd-funded flight for migrants.
“We have been working closely with the organisers, alumni of the National Law School, who we understand independently crowd-funded their efforts to assist and repatriate the migrant workers,” Air Asia India’s head of sales and distribution, Anup Manjeshwar said, adding that Air Asia was proud of this initiative by the NLS.
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Upon arrival at Ranchi, the passengers were given food packets and mineral water bottles by the district administration officials. Additionally, some were surprised to find that there were buses waiting to take them to their home districts. It is said that all passengers were screened at the airport upon arrival.
An alumnus of NLS Bengaluru, Shyel Trehan said - “NLS taught us the value of equality and dignity. We are happy to have made this small contribution to address a massive travesty. This was a coordinated group effort with Priya Sharma, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay and alumni from NLS working together.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren expressed gratitude to the crowdfunded project. “I thank you for stepping forward and helping the needy. Your efforts will motivate others,” the CM said in a tweet.
Not all migrants have been this lucky as the city has seen thousands of migrants desperately trying to get back to their home states/districts on foot while a few have been lucky enough to get back via crowdfunded or sponsored means.
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