Congress will bear cost of rail travel for migrants and needy workers: Sonia Gandhi

Guwahati: Congress will bear cost of rail travel for migrants and needy workers, said Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi. She also questioned government spending worth crores on events. 

According to a tweet: This will be the Indian National Congress' humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them: Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi.

"When our Government can recognise its responsibility by arranging free air travel for our citizens stranded abroad, when the government can spend nearly Rs. 100 crores on transport and food etc. for just one public programme in Gujarat, when the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate Rs. 151 Crores to the PM's Corona fund, then why can't these essential members of our nation's fabric be given a fraction of the same courtesy, especially free rail travel, at this hour of acute distress," Sonia Gandhi wrote in her statement. 

"Post the partition of 1947, this is the first time India witnessed a tragedy with such a massive human cost as thousands of migrant workers and labourers were forced to walk home several hundred kilometres on foot - without food, without medicines, without money, without transportation, without anything except for the desire to return to their families and loved ones," she added.

As per the guideline issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, on the occasion of Labour Day, the Indian Railways has introduced "Shramik Special" trains to move migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places due to lockdown.

These special trains will be run from point to point on the request of both the concerned State Governments as per the standard protocols for sending and receiving such stranded persons. The Railways and State Governments shall appoint senior officials as Nodal Officers for coordination and smooth operation of these "Shramik Specials."