Kerala CM urges Centre to operate special trains to transport stranded migrant workers

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged Central government to ply special n-stop trains for stranded migrants and labourers to get back home. Vijayan criticised Centre's order to transport stranded persons by buses and termed it as 'impractical.' Kerala CM highlighted that re are around 3.6 lakh migrant workers in 20,826 camps across state, hence, it would t be practical to ply buses for such a large number of people. 

Apart from this, Vijayan also stated that re is a high risk of spre of disease if y travel by buses. He ded that Chief Secretary Tom Jose has also written to Union Home Minister about same.

RE | Coronavirus Live Updates: India's Tally At 33610 With 1075 De; Doubling Rate At 11 Days

Gehlot urges PM to permit trains to operate 

Earlier on Wednesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed Home Ministry's move to permit movement of stranded labourers across country allowing m to return back to ir homes. Taking to Twitter, Gehlot informed that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming order issued by MHA on Wednesday. However, he stated that until Centre does t permit trains to operate, labourers cant return home keeping long-distance and large number of stranded individuals in mind. 

RE | Karnataka Allows Resuming All Industrial Activities Outside Containment Zones From May 4

Chief Minister has appealed to Prime Minister to run special trains amid lockdown as it would be a 'practical solution for workers' to return home safely. He requested that for safe movement of millions of migrants, Government of India should start operating special trains without any delay. 

MHA issues guidelines

In a big development on Wednesday, Ministry of Home Affairs permitted inter-state movement of stranded persons in country. This move will help migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists who have been stranded in different parts of India to return to ir home state. While buses will be used for transportation of persons, y will be allowed to proceed only after being medically screened.

RE | Devendra Fnavis Hails Guv's Decision On MLC Polls, Conveys ‘best Wishes’ To CM Thackeray

Moreover, y will again be tested for COVID-19 at ir destination and kept in home quarantine or sent to an institutional quarantine facility as per assessment. Currently, re are 31,787 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 7,797 persons have recovered while 1008 casualties have been reported.

As per guidelines issued by MHA, all state governments have been directed to designate dal officers and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons. dal authorities shall register stranded persons within ir state or Union Territory. sending and receiving state must consult each or when a group of stranded person seeks to move from one state to ar state and mutually agree to movement by ro.

RE | COVID-19: UP CM Yogi ityanath Orders Sealing Of Borders With Or States, Nepal