States ask for train services to ferry migrants amid Coronavirus lockdown

The Union Home Ministry in its order on Wednesday asked states to make preparations for buses to facilitate inter-state movements of the migrant workers.

Several states have asked the ministry to allow the use of trains, noting that given the huge number of people waiting to be ferried, distance and logistics of travel, it rules out the running of buses.

Meanwhile, several states have also made preparations to bring back the stranded workers.

Rajasthan was among the first in ferrying out around 40,000 migrant workers by bus since Thursday morning.

Uttar Pradesh government has also made massive preparations in doing so. It has brought back 12,000 stranded workers from Haryana so far.

However, Punjab, Bihar, Maharashtra and some southern states, have asked that trains be made available for this movement.

Bihar was among the first to raise objections. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted that the Centre must operate special trains to transport "migrants from distant places."

"I appeal GOI to allow special trains to bring migrants from distant places .#WelcomeBihar," his tweet read.

Punjab, which has around a million migrant labourers outside the state, has written to the Prime Minister, asking for trains.

According to reports, more than 6 lakhs migrants have registered with the Rajasthan government to reach their states.

Following the appeal from states, the Government has reportedly said that it would look into the matter.

Centre allows inter-state movement of stranded people:

Amid the nationwide anti-Covid-19 lockdown, the central government on Wednesday allowed all stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students with no Coronavirus symptoms to head back to their home states.

The order came from the Centre as the country is set to partially exit from the lockdown mode in less than a week's time.

All stranded people will be screened at the beginning of their journey as well as at their destination.

Moreover, the travellers will have to remain in home or institutional quarantine on arrival following the guidelines of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The lockdown, which was initially called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mar 24 for 21 days, had led to a humanitarian crisis with several migrant workers stranded at various parts of the country triggering a panic nationwide.

Though the respective state governments as well the Centre had repeatedly assured of enough food supply for all, the migrant workers took to their feet to cross state borders.

However, since the announcement of lockdown, the migrants have been left unemployed and unsheltered forcing them to find ways to reach their hometowns and villages.

In a more worrying situation amid the lockdown, which was later extended by Modi till May 3, the migrant workers allegedly being motivated by some false social media posts and news reports gathered outside Mumbai's Bandra railway station to head back to their homes creating chaos and flouting the social distancing norms.

India lost 1079 lives due to the coronavirus infection and registered more than 33, 610 cases across different states. Besides, the human casualty, India is also expected to face a huge economic crisis and rapid job losses.