Home Ministry to States: Ensure no migrant resorts to walking

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday issued a fresh Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) directing all Ministries, States and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that "no migrant worker has to resort to walking on roads or railway tracks to reach his destination".

Followed by similar SOPs issued on May 11, the new norms clarified that district authorities will have to request the Ministry of Railways for running more trains, where required, so that migrants could not walk on roads due to lack of proper arrangements. As the government has already run 'Shramik' special trains to ferry migrant workers to their native places, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued these fresh SOPs emphasizing on strict adherence to health, hygiene and social distancing.

These SOPs are in continuation of the revised consolidated guidelines on lockdown measures issued on Sunday, and allow movement of stranded workers by trains under various measures that include the Ministry of Railways (MoR) that would permit Movement of 'Shramik' special trains in consultation with the MHA.

The MHA had on May 1 and May 5 also issued such SOPs which are conferred under Disaster Management Act allowing movement of persons by train.

As per the SOPs, all states and UTs will have to designate nodal authorities and make necessary arrangements for receiving and sending such stranded persons.

Based on the requirements of states and UTs, the train schedule, including stoppages and destination would be finalized by the Ministry of Railways. "States and UTs would make suitable arrangements for sending and receiving such stranded workers."

Publicity of train schedule, protocols for entry and movement of passengers, services to be provided in coaches, and arrangements with states and UTs for booking of tickets would be done by the Ministry of Railways, the SOPs mentioned.

It has been stressed that States and UTs and the Ministry of Railways would ensure that all passengers are compulsorily screened and only asymptomatic passengers are allowed to board the train. (IANS) 

Also Read: Nagaland Covid-19 Update: 948 Samples Tested, all 'Negative'