Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to state governments and asked that more buses be started and that the states coordinate with the Railway Ministry to ply more transit to ensure that the Migrant workers return home safely.
Almost two months since the unplanned lockdown to contain Covid-19 has thrown up more challenges than solutions, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially acknowledged the migrant labourer exodus across the country. Scores have died undertaking the journey homeward, many on foot, and some in crowded vehicles, before some action was initiated and special trains began running. However, even to get onto one of those trains home is a mammoth task, as new reports from the Ghaziabad chaos have proven beyond a doubt.
However, the MHA has now pinned the responsibility on individual states to make sure migrant labourers are “guided” to buses and railway stations and are given food and a place to rest. The ministry spokesperson tweeted this (SIC): “Proactive coord between States & @RailMinIndia reqd to run more trains; run more buses for smooth transport of #MigrantWorkers. Create rest places with food etc for people on foot, till they are guided to bus/rail stations. Dispel rumours, give clarity on train/bus departures: MHA”
Proactive coord between States & @RailMinIndia reqd to run more trains; run more buses for smooth transport of #MigrantWorkers.
Create rest places with food etc for people on foot, till they are guided to bus/rail stations.
Dispel rumours, give clarity on train/bus departures:MHA pic.twitter.com/EUHZgU5egD— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 19, 2020
The Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasised that this “proactive coordination among States and Railways” is “essential to run more trains for smooth transport of Migrant Workers”. It has not instructed the district authorities to give details of “their requirements to Railways.” But then if the instructions have come now, or are being repeated what have the states been doing till now? Have the migrant workers seeking a seat on these special trains left to their own devices? News reports of workers being charged high prices, and being cheated by touts have come in already.
The MHA has also asked states to “run more buses, ensure their smooth transition across states and inter-state borders” and also create places for the traveller to rest en-route, and also ensure “places with basic amenities for people on foot, till they are guided to bus/rail stations.”
However, a political storm, and massive confusion has already ensued when the Congress party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi offered to run 1000 buses to take migrants home to Uttar Pradesh. The proposal was accepted but now the state government has added more steps to be completed before the buses run. While ‘accepting’ the Congress’ offer, UP had also sought “fitness certificate of the buses, complete details of all drivers and conductors.” Of course all the information has to be made available at Lucknow post-haste.
Politics intensifies on Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi offering 1000 buses to ferry migrants. UP ACS (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi now asks for fitness certificate of the buses, complete details of all drivers and conductors. pic.twitter.com/eNA3H8P1qt
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) May 18, 2020
While UP seeks the paperwork from Priyanka Gandhi, other Congress workers have alleged that the state has also stopped some of those buses from entering its border with Rajasthan.
Out of 1000 buses organised Congress Gen Secretary @priyankagandhi, more than 500 buses have been stopped at UP-RJ border near Agra by UP Govt.
भाजपा के पालतू पत्रकार भी देखें कि इनमें कितने स्कूटर हैं। People are suffering due to BJP’s petty politics!#आदित्यनाथ_का_अत्याचार pic.twitter.com/t5OZw8IeyJ
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) May 19, 2020
The most shocking news is from states such as Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana where it has been alleged that the returning migrants workers have been asked to pay for food and other facilities at quarantine centres.
Perhaps they have not read the MHA letter to the states, which has finally noted “noted that fear of COVID-19 infection and apprehension of loss of livelihood are the main driving factors for the movement of stranded workers towards their homes”. It has ordered the states to”mitigate the distress of migrant workers,” and even suggests the ways to do so “ pro-actively in coordination with the Centre.”
These measures are:
- Operation of more special trains by pro-active coordination between States and with Ministry of Railways;
- Increase in number of buses for transporting migrants; allowing entry of buses carrying migrants at inter-state border;
- More clarity may be given about departure of trains/ buses, as lack of clarity coupled with rumours caused unrest amongst the workers;
- Arrangement of designated rest places, with adequate facilities for sanitation, food and healthcare, could be made by the States on routes where migrants are known to be already travelling on foot;
- District Authorities may guide workers moving on foot to designated rest places, nearby bus terminals or railway stations by arranging transportation;
- Special attention may be given to the specific requirements of women, children and elderly amongst the migrant workers;
- District Authorities may involve NGO representatives at rest places etc, to alleviate the notion of long quarantine at rest places. Workers may also be encouraged to remain at places where they are;
- Enlisting the migrants with their addresses and contact numbers. This may be helpful in contact tracing in due course.
The MHA has reiterated that the states “must ensure that no migrant worker has to resort to walking on roads or railway tracks to reach his/her destination”. The letter has been signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.
The SOPs have been spelt out too:
“@PIBHomeAffairs
SOP for movement of #StrandedWorkers by trains.
●States to share reqt for trains with @RailMinIndia; make suitable arrangements for sending/receiving people
●Train Schedule, other info inc ticket booking to be publicised by Railways
●Health protocols to be strictly followed”
https://twitter.com/PIBHomeAffairs/status/1262631003358507015
SOP for movement of #StrandedWorkers by trains.
●States to share reqt for trains with @RailMinIndia; make suitable arrangements for sending/receiving people
●Train Schedule, other info inc ticket booking to be publicised by Railways
●Health protocols to be strictly followed pic.twitter.com/xkE4kqHrnX— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 19, 2020
However, the devil lies in the details and it is not clear if the MHA has a plan in place for states who are yet to open the borders to allow the busses carrying migrant labourers to enter. The scenes on the roads leading to the highway are clear, hundreds of migrant workers are still braving the summer heat and continue to wait patiently next to parked buses.
Related:
UP gov’t accepts Priyanka Gandhi’s proposal of arranging 1,000 buses for migrant workers
SHOCKING! States ask incoming migrants to pay for institutional quarantine