The coronavirus pandemic has not brought only dark tidings; there have been colours of hope too, lent by the section worst affected by the lockdown.

Quarantined in two schools in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, a group of migrant labourers have added colour to their temporary abode by painting the chipped walls as a mark of gratitude.

About 54 workers from Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh who are quarantined at Shaheed Sitaram Kumawat School and Seth KL Tambi Government Higher Secondary School in Palsana town have painted the walls for free as a token of appreciation for the arrangements made for them in quarantine.

Migrant workers have been quarantined at many places across the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after the sudden announcement of the lockdown left them without income and food and forced them to undertake a painful exodus.

Palsana sarpanch Roop Singh Shekhawat said that in response to the good care taken of them at the quarantine centres, the migrant workers wanted to express their gratitude.

Wall paint and other necessary items were made available to them, which they used to give a makeover to the schools.

“The entire village is overwhelmed by their behaviour. All these people are perfectly healthy and their quarantine time is also over. It is joyful to see the constructive work done by the workers who have used the quarantine period beautifully,” Shekhawat said.

Jagat Singh Panwar, secretary of the district legal services authority who had visited the quarantine centres and met the workers, praised them for the initiative.

The principal of Seth KL Tambi Government Higher Secondary School, Rajendra Meena, said the school premises had not been white-washed in the past nine years.

The teachers contributed from their salaries to buy paint and other necessary items. The workers did not accept any money for painting the walls.

Uddhav advice

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has suggested that the Centre issue guidelines by this month-end on sending migrant workers to their native places.

Maharashtra is looking after 6 lakh migrants, Thackeray said.