Centre reminds states of 'responsibility' towards hapless migrants

In a letter to State Chief Secretaries, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla urged them to ensure that there is no movement of migrant workers on roads and railway tracks as the same is facilitated through special buses or Shramik special trains.

New Delhi:The Union Home Ministry on Friday urged states and Union Territories to ensure that migrant workers do not walk back home as the government is running special buses or Shramik specials to facilitate their journey.

The ministry directed them to widely disseminate the arrangements for travel among the migrant workers and counsel them to not walk when they can travel in buses and trains.

With the cooperation of states and Union Territories, the Ministry of Railways is running more than 100 Shramik special trains per day. The ministry said it is ready to arrange additional trains as per their requirement.

In a letter to State Chief Secretaries, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated, "The government has allowed movement of migrant workers. 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."

Ajay Bhalla urged them to ensure that there is no movement of migrant workers on roads and railway tracks as the same is facilitated through special buses or Shramik special trains.

In the letter, the Union Home Secretary alluded to a letter dated May 11 pertaining to faster movement of stranded migrant workers through buses and Shramik special trains.

In the letter, the situation of migrant workers walking on roads and on railway tracks was highlighted and it was advised that in case, they are found in such condition, they should be counselled, given shelters, food and water till they board the trains or buses to their native places.

Bhalla, however, rued that movement of migrant workers walking on roads, railway tracks and travelling in trucks is still being noticed in different parts of the country.

IANS REPORT