Mohammed Saudagar, a jute mill labourer in North 24-Parganas’ Kankinara, wonders how to feed his family of five as he has run out of cash and the food stocks at home are fast depleting.

Saudagar’s plight is not unique but the story of around 1,400 families in the Kankinara Jute Mill coolie line under Bhatpara municipality. These families have been struggling to survive the lockdown with mills closed and many yet to get their wages.

Apart from Kankinara Jute Mill, there are at least eight other jute mills in the area that are yet to pay wages to workers despite government orders.

What’s worse, the Covid-19 crisis has come when these families were slowly recovering from the violence that had rocked the area after the Lok Sabha polls in May last year.

Saudagar said: “Local businessman Gopal Rout had given us rice, potatoes and lentil. Later, the local councillor arranged for some rice and lentils for two days. Some organisations have also offered help. But apart from this, we have got nothing. We have no money to buy soaps to wash our hands and clothes. Most of us are washing clothes in plain water.”

The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) supplied a kilo of detergent each to 93 families last week.

Sources said many of these families in Kankinara don’t have ration cards. Coupons for free rations issued by the state government have not been distributed either. Local Trinamul councillor and vice-chairman of Bhatpara municipality, Maksud Alam, said: “Coupons have been arranged and are expected to be delivered within a day or two.”

He refuted allegations about absence of relief: “Relief may not be adequate, but enough for basic needs.”

Barrackpore SDO Abul Kalam Azad Islam said: “If the people have not been given relief materials by the municipal authorities, we will do it.”

Last week, the Aamra Ek Sachetan Prayas Forum, a Baidyabati-based social organisation, along with APDR, conducted a survey in the area and found that most families were struggling without food in unhygienic living conditions.

“We have found that the condition of 927 people in this belt is very bad. Most of these families had suffered during last year’s political violence. They have no food, no detergent or soap. They are not even aware of the fatality of Covid-19. Immediate steps should be taken to rescue these people from hunger and unhygienic conditions,” said Mohit Ranadip, a member of the forum.