New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday discussed about Covid-19 situation prevailing across India with state Chief Ministers.
Sources in the Home Ministry told ETV Bharat that Shah has appealed all the Chief MInisters to ensure that 21 days lockdown is being implemented in their states.
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Sources said, Shah following his discussion with Chief Ministers of Maharastra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Assam, Delhi among others took stock over the prevailing situation.
"Home Minister had discussed with Chief Ministers regarding the prevailing situation over Covid-19," said Puniya Salila Srivastava, a senior official from the Home Ministry.
Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on the other hand, has written letter to all states and UTs to take immediate steps to provide adequate support, including food and shelter, to migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers, and other unorganized sector workers during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Similarly, states and UTs have been advised to take steps to ensure that students, working women from other states are also allowed to continue in their existing accommodation.
The letter issued by home secretary also suggests that in order to mitigate the situation for unorganised sector workers, particularly standard migrant workers, state and UTs need to explore measure by involving various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food and shelter with basic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation etc.
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Further states and UTs have been advised to make this vulnerable groups aware of the measures taken by the government including provision of food grains and other essential items through PDS and streamline the distribution system. "This would help prevent avoidable movement of such people, " the advisory issued from the Home Ministry said.
The Home Ministry has also advised the states and UTs on the need to ensure that hotels, rented accommodation, hostels etc continue to remain functional and delivery of essential items is streamlined so that students, working women, hostel inmates are allowed to continue in existing facilities while observing precautions.
