The Assam government has arranged for a free ride in a special train from Guwahati to Chennai and Bengaluru on September 20 to woo those from the state -- who had fled southern states in August after threats of ethnic violence -- to return to their place of work and study.
The government's decision to facilitate a free train ride came in the wake of below par response from these people -- who had fled south India out of panic in the wake of threat SMSs targeting people from the north-east -- to two special trains already run by the Northeast Frontier Railway.
An official source informed that the Assam government wanted all 20,000 people, who had returned to the state from south India in August, to go back to their jobs and studies.
The government is also aware of the fact that it will be difficult to find immediate employment avenues for so many people.
Most of these people were engaged in blue collar jobs -- working as security guards, front office staff, restaurant staffers in south India -- and they had been remitting money to their families back home every month.
All those people who want to avail free tickets to travel to south India have been asked by the Assam government to register their names with the deputy commissioners of respective districts latest by September 13 with their details.
The train will pick up passengers at Guwahati, Rangiya, Barpeta Road, New Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar.
