Coronavirus | Government Committed To Provide All Support To Migrant Workers During Lockdown: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured all kind of support to migrant workers during the lockdown announced by the government to combat the deadly coronavirus pandemic. The Home Ministry has also asked all states and union territories to immediately set up relief camps for migrant workers, pilgrims, etc., who are returning to their domicile states or trying to do so during this 21-day lockdown period.

“As per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has committed all support to migrant workers during lockdown period,” Amit Shah said, while reviewing the country's preparedness to contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to a statement, the Union Home Minister has authorised states to use State Disaster Relief Fund for relief measures for migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Earlier, he spoke to chief ministers of some states and asked them to look into the issue of the mass exodus.

In an advisory, the Union Home Ministry asked the state governments to prevent a mass exodus of migrant agriculture labourers, industrial workers and unorganised sector employees from their workplaces to hometowns .

The advisory to all the states and Union territories said they should also make arrangements for uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to hotels, working women hostels so that they continue to live in existing facilities.

"The home ministry has issued an advisory to States/UTs to prevent mass exodus of migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and unorganised sector workers, so as to prevent the spread of COVID19," an official spokesperson said.

The states and union territories have also been advised to make these vulnerable groups aware of measures taken by the government, including provision of free food grains and other essential items through PDS, and streamline the procedures.

"This would help prevent the exodus of such people," the spokesperson said.

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SpiceJetNSE 3.52 % CMD Ajay Singh said the airline is ready to operate some flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Patna to alleviate the suffering of migrant workers, especially those from Bihar.

BJP president JP Nadda also asked his party workers to help out the migrants.

With PTI Inputs