India, March 26 -- Just Rs.30 a day - yet it will determine whether Ajay Kumar can continue to live in Mumbai or is forced back to his village, as the LPG crisis turns into a question of survival for lakhs of migrant workers like him.

"The rice plate I eat for lunch has risen from Rs.50 to Rs.80. How will I manage? Thankfully, the food stall, where I eat, is still functioning as they are managing to wrangle cylinders. Varna hum bhookhe rah jate (Or else, we would starve)," said Kumar, a daily wager from Uttar Pradesh who seeks work at nakas in Andheri east.

The 40-50 lakh-strong migrant workers, who keep the wheels of the city turning, are among those hardest hit by the LPG shortage due to the ongoing West Asia war.

"We have started ge...