Mumbai, March 27 Around 100,000-plus citizens of North Eastern states and Tibetans living, studying or working in Maharashtra are on the verge of panic over the 21-day lockdown as they could encounter a probable 'life-and-death' situation.
Mumbai and Pune, the two main cities which are also worst-hit by COVID-19, also happen to be the major hubs of NE folk, with nearly two-thirds of them being women.
Hailing from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, besides Sikkim and a sprinkling of Tibetans, they are mostly engaged in the hospitality, beauty and grooming, and communication industries.
"The real problems are starting for us now. Most live in rented accommodations and work largely as daily wage earners. By March-end, or early April, the rents will be due or rentals up for renewals. But we have no money for this," rued Leo Tharmi Raikhan of Manipur and spokesperson for the Tangkhul Welfare Association
( With inputs from IANS )