The national #lockdown imposed by the Indian government early last year caused untold pain and suffering, not least for #migrantworkers who, suddenly left without an income or a support system, were compelled to leave cities for their villages and small towns, often walking hundreds of miles on foot.

It was the largest mass migration in India since the Partition and we decided to tell the heartbreaking stories of some of the migrants to understand how government mismanagement and apathy had unleashed a humanitarian disaster atop of a public health crisis.

The more we travelled the more we were overwhelmed by the sheer helplessness of the migrants. “There is no one for us” was a common refrain.

#Vilaap, a new documentary, tells the story of how last year’s mismanaged lockdown unleashed a humanitarian disaster in India.

Watch.

This film was produced with support from the Thakur Foundation.

Credits:
Director: Chaitra Yadavar
Cinematography: Siddhesh Giri and Chaitra Yadavar
Editor: Ranjabati Sarkar
Script-writer: Debarati Sarkar
Narrator: Rajiv Dadia

Subscribe to Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=social

Follow and engage with us on social media:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/newslaundry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newslaundry
Instagram: https://instagram.com/newslaundry