The government has finally taken the decision easing the misery of millions of migrant labourers by send them to their native town. Since the lockdown most of the labourers were stranded in various places with no money and no work away from their families. Finally government has done something for them.
Incidents like thousands of labourers being crowded at ISBT bus terminal, Anand Vihar, Delhi wanting to return home has flourished in the news since past a month. Many of them, shattered my misery and poverty and no availability of any means of transport started their journey on foot to their villages which were hundreds of kilometres far. These news were a thunderbolt for the government. However, better late than never, some arrangement has been made for them finally.
Trains for sending labourers stranded in the states to their native places
The central government has decided to run special trains to send migrant labourers stranded in various states of the country to their homes amid Corona lockdown. Yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued new guidelines for labourers to return home in which many types of discounts are given.
The Home Ministry had earlier issued an order to ensure their return from buses. However since the number of people are enormous and buses won’t be feasible the government has decided to run trains for the movement of people stranded in different parts of the country. The State Governments and the Ministry of Railways will ensure this movement.
Departure of asymptomatic labourers – responsibility of state governments
Railways has said that the government of the state from where the workers will leave for home will have to examine them. Only the asymptomatic will be allowed to travel. The state will have to bring labourers in groups in sanitized buses to the station.
4 states including Bihar and Punjab had demanded special train
Bihar, Punjab, Telangana and Kerala had demanded the central government to run special train to bring labourers back in their state. The states had said that the number of people are vast. In such a situation, it will take a long time to get these people to their homes by buses. At the same time, there will also be a risk of infection, because many states will have to come through.
In fact, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday has allowed stranded labourers, students, pilgrims and others in other states to go to their home states. However, according to the rules and regulations, these people have been asked to send buses from one state to another.
The first special train left from Telangana to Jharkhand
The first special train left from Telangana to Jharkhand on Friday with 1200 workers who were trapped due to lockdown. This is no less than a big relief for the workers trapped in the lockdown. However, no decision has been taken on how many more such trains will run next.
What Arun Kumar said
Director General of Railway Protection Force Arun Kumar said that there are about 1200 migrants in 24 coaches of this special train started from Telangana. A decision will be taken today on whether more trains will run. He told that the train left at 4:50 am from Lingampally in Telangana, which is going to Hatia in Jharkhand
Special train will also leave for Odisha
After Telangana, now special train will leave from Ernakulam in Kerala to Odisha. There will be a total of 1200 migrant workers in this special train who will return to their homes. This information has been given by VS Sunil Kumar, Minister in the Government of Kerala. However, information about the timing of the train is not yet known at what time the train will leave from Ernakulam.
