Congress to bear train travel cost for migrant workers; Sonia attacks govt & rail ministry

Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a statement on Monday anunced that party has taken a decision that every Pradesh Congress Committee shall bear cost for rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer and shall take necessary steps in this regard. She added that this will be Congress’ "humble contribution in service of our compatriots" and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with m.

'Our workers & labourers are ambassadors of India's growth'

This comes after Indian Railways on Friday decided to charge for tickets for operating special trains for stranded migrant workers amid Coronavirus lockdown. Sonia Gandhi also attacked Central government by saying that if government can bring back citizens stranded abroad free, why can't it extend same courtesy of free rail travel to migrants.

"Our workers and labourers are ambassadors of our nation’s growth. When our Government can recognise its responsibility by arranging free air travel for our citizens stranded abroad when Government can spend nearly Rs.100 crores on transport and food etc. for just one public programme in Gujarat, when Rail Ministry has largesse to donate Rs. 151 Crores to PM’s Corona fund, n why can’t se essential members of our nation’s fabric be given a fraction of same courtesy, especially free rail travel, at this hour of acute distress?" Congress President said.

Here is Sonia Gandhi's full statement:

Indian Railways on Sunday issued guidelines for Shramik trains that are operating for movement of stranded migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, and students stuck due to Covid lockdown. It states that local and state government authorities will act as a link and co-ordinate between passengers and Railways in distribution of tickets. It says that Shramik trains are n-stop trains bound for a single destination. It has clearly mentioned that all people will be screened in state from where y will board train, and only if y are asymptomatic, y will be allowed to travel. 

READ | MHA permits movement of stranded persons by train, Railways to run 'Shramik Special'

READ | Two ‘Shramik Express’ trains bring 2,300 migrant workers from Kerala & Gujarat to Odisha

Here are points specified in guidelines:

• Shramik special trains should have at least 90 per cent occupancy to operate.
• local state government authority shall handover tickets of such trains to passengers cleared by m and collect ticket fare and hand over total amount to Railways.
• It also said that originating state will provide adequate security at designated station to ensure that only those passengers, who have been cleared by state government to travel and have a valid train ticket for journey, should enter station premises.
• Railways shall print train tickets to specified destination, as per number of passengers indicated by originating state and hand m over to local state government authority, it said.
• state government shall issue food packets and drinking water at originating points, it said.
• It will be mandatory for all passengers to wear face cover. state authorities shall advise passengers to use mask/ face covers.
• originating state will encour all passengers to download and use Aarogya Setu App.
• For trains with a long journey beyond 12 hours, one meal will be provided by railways.
• On arrival at ir destination, passengers will be received by state government authorities, who would make all arrangements for ir screening quarantine, if necessary, and furr travel. receiving state will make adequate security arrangements at railway station. 

READ | Railways issues guidelines to operate Shramik trains, clarifies on tickets distribution

READ | Shramik special train ferrying 800 UP migrant workers from Nashik arrives in Luckw