Ensure That No Migrants Walk On Roads/Rails; Counsel Them to Go To Shelter Homes: MHA Tells States

The Union Home Secretary, Sh. Ajay Bhalla, wrote to the Chief Secretaries of all States urging them to ensure migrant workers are not walking on roads and railway tracks after their movement has been facilitated by the Government.

Further his letter stated that “As you are aware, Government has allowed the movement of migrant workers by buses and ‘Shramik’ special trains to enable them to travel to their native places. It is now the responsibility of all States and Union Territories to ensure that movement of stranded migrant workers who are willing to go to their Home States is facilitated. States/UTs should widely disseminate the arrangements for travel, in special buses/’Shramik” special train amongst the migrant workers and persuade/counsel them that they should not be walking when they can travel in buses/trains.”

This concern was raised as movement of migrant workers is still noticeable wherein they have been seen on roads, railway tracks and travelling in trucks across different parts of the country. Citing a letter written by the MHA on May 11, it is stated that migrant workers continue to be on the move despite such an order.

By Priyanka of SPPU