Varanasi boatmen face financial hardships, say on the 'brink of poverty'

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 30 issued new guidelines for phased re-opening of "all activities outside containment zones for the next one month beginning June 1"

Boatmen on the bank of river Ganga say they are facing financial hardships even as relaxations are extended during unlock 1.

Speaking to ANI, one of the boatmen Babu Sahni said that the situation is pushing them on the brink of poverty. "We have followed all the lockdown guidelines. Everyone is getting permission to resume their work but we have not got any order. The situation is pushing us on the brink of poverty. We did not even get help from Government," he said.

"The government seems to be unhappy with us. They have not announced anything for our community.