With the closure of Indo-Myanmar border gates at Moreh since March 10 as precautionary measures against the pandemic COVID-19, the 700 labourers and members of IMWF Moreh has been facing immense hardships, Indo-Myanmar Workers Forum (IMWF) president N Pulindro Singh said on Tuesday.

Speaking in a press meet held at Moreh, N Pulindro singh stated that due to the closure of border gates and statewide lockdown, the members of the forum could not get any work for their livelihood. These members are living on hand-to-mouth and most of these labours are surviving on only one meal a day, he said.    

He said that due to curfew and lockdown, people could not go out and they only have to wait for the government's attention and help. The rice quota of PMGKAY free rice should be five kg per head as per government order but people of the town received only three kg from PMGKAY quota, it stated. So, he appealed to the authorities concerned and the state government to look into the PMGKAY rice quota.

He also appealed to the state government to open the Gate no. I and II of Moreh for a few hours a day so that the laborers could get their basic needs. Many members of the forum seek help from the organisation but as they do not have enough funds, he said. So, he requested the state government to look for these labourers. The labourers may die of hunger before becoming infected by COVID-19, he added.