Usually,cremation of a dead body is done soon after the death when the relatives arrive and it is feared that lest body does not decay.
Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
Email:raghbirsinghbrar@gmail.com
Punjab after mass exodus is heading towards a serious problem.The timely cremation of the elders.
A social media post by a social worker Maghar Singh from Faridkot is telling a lot in itself.
The post informs the locals about the opening of a mortuary in Faridkot financed by some NRIs.This is the second mortuary in the town.
“With the financial assistance by some Canada based NRIs, we have opened a 6 bedded mortuary with an approximate cost of 7.5 lakh.6 dead bodies can be laid in its chamber and it is fully automatic and powered by a 25 HP generator set,” said Maghar Singh,when contacted by the Punjab express.com.
“As most of the children have left for other countries,it takes them two-three days to fly back to India,depending upon the country and availability of the air tickets.So, if one dies in the family back home, cremation has to be delayed until the arrival of the family members.we have have built this facility,” Maghar Singh explains.
In the past decade, lakhs of boys and girls have flown to Canada,Australia,UK and US etc.
“Almost, one or other from every house in the village have left for other countries on student visa.The houses and village wear a deserted look without the youth,’ said Jaswinder Singh from village Ghania.
“The life in the other countries where the youth has gone is also very much depressive.The work permits are not extended.Whatever they earn, they hardly live by it as most of their income goes into buying grocery,paying rents and meeting other expenses.Three people had migrated to a most sought after destination over five years ago.But after their valid visas expired,they had to come back.After some time,their visas were again extended and they again flew back to that country.Actually, the students are leading very stressful life there,’ said Maghar Singh,from Faridkot.
Mostly above 50 parents are back home
“Since the youth from most of the houses have left, people only above 50 years have been left back or more aged.If they had to rush to hospitals,there is hardly anybody back,” said Tejinder Singh, a man from a village near Kotkapura.
Once you fall into the trap,no escape route
Migration on student visa is not so simple.One had to shell about 25 to 30 lakh on two years study visa.Mostly one plus one certificate courses were arranged by the money minting agents allegedly looting the innocent people.So if one spends such a big amount,and investe more than 5 years of his prime age there, there is no coming back possible for the common students who arranged the money by selling lands,Gold or taking hefty amounts on loan.
Getting PR takes years and years,even readmissions, buying LIMAs spring more and more money
“It took me years and years to get PR in the county in live.Now I am about 38 and got married only about 2 years back.Life was really tough here but I did not disclose anything back home to my parents.Time is a great healer and now I have settled well,’ said a Faridkot village boy who had migrated to a country on study visa about a decade back.
“As some of the courses and colleges arranged by the agents fail to meet criteria, the students may have to re-admit themselves in other courses and colleges or buy Labour Market Impact Assessment etc.
Few small school going children
About 20 years back, from a hamlet of about 20 houses of my village Bir Sikhan Wala ,there were over 20 students studying in the private schools in Kotkapura,their vehicle was jam packed then, but now there is only one small girl studying in 1st or 2nd class.The hamlet I am I am discussing about has no more than 20 families belonging to the farming community.Most of youth,except one, have migrated.
Indifferent attitude the respective governments
The respective governments had failed to shift farming communities/other working classes to any industry to provide them stable and secure jobs.Even now much sought after and respectful jobs of Faujis in the army had been converted into Agniveer,with 4.5 years employment.
The disappointed youth found only one way to earn their livelihood.The parents are back home and children at offshore countries struggling to get a future.Some are all happy and some regret the decision.Everyone has his own circumstances and mindset.
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