The Dhanbad district administration in association with the Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce & Industries has established a slipper bank (“Chappal Bank”) facility for the migrant workers walking barefooted at various spots in the district after arriving from outside Jharkhand.

The stock of slippers has already been procured and a counter for distributing the footwear will begin functioning on June 1 near Birsa Chowk of Bank More around 11.30am.

Subdivisional officer Raj Maheshwaram on Friday held a meeting with representatives of the federation at the district collectorate, during which a decision on the Chappal Bank for the migrant workers was taken. The migrant workers will also be provided lemon water, sattu, etc.

Maheshwaram said: “The Chappal Bank will be of great help to the migrant workers walking barefooted to their home due to lack of sufficient income.”

Grins in grim times: Children of coal workers queue up for free food outside a Mukhyamantri Dal Bhat Kendra at Kujama in Jharia, Dhanbad, on Saturday. The Dal-Bhat kitchens apart, the state government has also set up Didi kitchens across panchayats. Recently, the state also set up around 100 Didi kitchens near national highways so that returning migrants don’t go hungry Text by Animesh Bisoee, picture by Shabbir Hussain

The secretary of the federation, Ajay Narayan Lal, said: “We will be launching a counter for distributing slippers to the poor, for which we have procured in sufficient quantity Hawaii slippers for both men and women which will be provided free of cost.”

“The counter will remain functional throughout the summer season, when the barefooted face difficulty due to scorching heat,” said Lal and added that the facility will be launched every year during the hot season.

The president of the federation, Chetan Goenka, said: “The intention behind establishing the Chappal Bank is to provide some relief to migrant workers walking from different places towards their homes.”

“The local units of the federation will establish 30 counters across the district to provide essential items like sattu, chana, gur (jaggery) and lemon water to the migrant workers,” he said.

“A mobile counter for distributing the essentials will also be functional,” Goenka added.