Capt Amarinder writes to PM for special trains to facilitate return of migrants
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed all DCs to prepare state-wise data of migrant labourers to coordinate
Chandigarh: In response to the Centre’s advisory on return of stranded migrants and others, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed all DCs to prepare state-wise data of migrant labourers to coordinate their movement, even as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrange for point-to-point special trains for the transportation of such persons.
The Chief Minister also announced that one officer had been assigned to each state for coordinating the return of stranded migrants.
The Chief Minister asked the DCs to, in the meantime, start preparing database of migrant labourers, state-wise, to ensure their smooth return.
In response to concerns expressed over shortage of food packets in some districts in view of the extended lockdown, the Chief Minister directed the Food Department to increase the quota of rations to be distributed to migrants and non-smart card holders. “Nobody should remain hungry,” he stressed.
Noting that since many other states might also be facing a similar situation, the Chief Minister sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in the matter, urging him to advise the Ministry of Railways to make special arrangements to ensure that these migrant workers reach
their destination safely.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had, on Wednesday, allowed inter-state movement of migrant workers, while directing that “buses shall be used for transport of a group of persons, of course after proper sanitization and maintaining social distancing norms in seating.”
Captain Amarinder pointed out that a large number of migrant workers who had come to Punjab for jobs/employment from Bihar, UP, and Jharkhand intended to return to their respective states due to the outbreak of COVID-19. “These workers are engaged both in agriculture and industries. However most of them either lost their jobs or could not find employment/work due curfew imposed in the state to contain coronavirus,” he wrote.
He hoped that the Prime Minister would appreciate the situation and advice the Ministry of Railways accordingly.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh informed the VC that as per the protocols, the DCs have to get the migrants in their respective districts screened and give certificates, following which the state control room is required to provide the concerned state the details of the migrant with contact number. There was no ban on sending the migrants in private buses, he clarified in response to a concern raised by DC Ludhiana in this regard.