States Say Plan To Bring Back Stranded Migrants In Buses Unfeasible
Over 2 crore people are stuck in various states of the country after the lockdown was imposed on March 24. Among them, apart from migrant labourers, there are students, tourists and pilgrims in large numbers.
On Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry gave these stranded people permission to travel but this is not an easy task for states.
Ashok Chaudhary, JDU leader and a minister in the Bihar government said that if 25 lakh labourers are brought back to Bihar while following social distancing norms, it will need 170,000 buses. This is not possible for the Bihar government, he added. Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said that it is not possible to bring back by buses people numbering lakhs stuck in various cities. He has asked the Central government to run special trains for this purpose. Srinivas Yadav, a minister in the Telangana government, has raised questions over the Home Ministry’s orders. He said, “More than 2 crore people are stuck in various states. The orders issued by the Central government for their movement are not proper. How will people travel for three-four days in such hot weather? Instead of buses, trains were the better option.” Thomas Isaac, Kerala Finance Minister said that the Central government should announce a rehabilitation and relief package for migrant labourers stranded in foreign countries and in India. The Central government should take on this responsibility because it falls under its jurisdiction, he added. J.C. Madhu Swamy, a minister in the Karnataka government said that permission for stranded labourers and students (stuck in the state) to go from one district of the state to another will be given only once and this expenditure will have to be borne by the labourers. Meanwhile, Sikh pilgrims had been stuck at Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra’s Nanded for a long time. The Punjab government has evacuated 3,613 pilgrims and brought them back to the state. Among the pilgrims who have returned to Punjab, two people have tested positive for the coronavirus. Rohit Kansal, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir has said that orders will be issued soon for the return of labourers and students. Stranded people have also been advised not to travel without the permission of Jammu and Kashmir administration. Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister has said that his government is making arrangements to evacuate and bring back students from Delhi stuck in Rajasthan’s Kota. Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has appealed to all migrant labourers to remain patient. He has said that a programme of action is being formulated for everybody’s safe return. Amid this, hundreds of labourers are stuck in Barwani on the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border. The Maharashtra Police has stopped them from entering the state. Watch the video story here:
Ashok Chaudhary, JDU leader and a minister in the Bihar government said that if 25 lakh labourers are brought back to Bihar while following social distancing norms, it will need 170,000 buses. This is not possible for the Bihar government, he added. Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said that it is not possible to bring back by buses people numbering lakhs stuck in various cities. He has asked the Central government to run special trains for this purpose. Srinivas Yadav, a minister in the Telangana government, has raised questions over the Home Ministry’s orders. He said, “More than 2 crore people are stuck in various states. The orders issued by the Central government for their movement are not proper. How will people travel for three-four days in such hot weather? Instead of buses, trains were the better option.” Thomas Isaac, Kerala Finance Minister said that the Central government should announce a rehabilitation and relief package for migrant labourers stranded in foreign countries and in India. The Central government should take on this responsibility because it falls under its jurisdiction, he added. J.C. Madhu Swamy, a minister in the Karnataka government said that permission for stranded labourers and students (stuck in the state) to go from one district of the state to another will be given only once and this expenditure will have to be borne by the labourers. Meanwhile, Sikh pilgrims had been stuck at Sri Hazur Sahib in Maharashtra’s Nanded for a long time. The Punjab government has evacuated 3,613 pilgrims and brought them back to the state. Among the pilgrims who have returned to Punjab, two people have tested positive for the coronavirus. Rohit Kansal, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir has said that orders will be issued soon for the return of labourers and students. Stranded people have also been advised not to travel without the permission of Jammu and Kashmir administration. Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister has said that his government is making arrangements to evacuate and bring back students from Delhi stuck in Rajasthan’s Kota. Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has appealed to all migrant labourers to remain patient. He has said that a programme of action is being formulated for everybody’s safe return. Amid this, hundreds of labourers are stuck in Barwani on the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border. The Maharashtra Police has stopped them from entering the state. Watch the video story here:
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