Rajasthan provides buses to migrants trudging to home
Jaipur, May 12 (IANS) To ensure that each migrant labourer reaches home and none of them is left unchecked or unscreened for Covid-19, the Ashok Gehlot government has launched “No To On Foot Movement”.
Under the initiative, Rajasthan officials have been asked to pick migrant labourers found walking to native places and put them in buses deployed for the purpose.
So far, 52 buses have transported over 1,500 labourers found walking their way to home to state boarders. They are provided food packets and bottled water for travel, and also shelter.
Most such migrants were spotted on the highways near Jaipur, Dausa and Bharatpur.
“We have made specific arrangements for them. I request them not to leave without adhering to guidelines as that could pose a threat to them as well as their families. Everyday we are coming with solutions, like deployment of buses, to help them,” Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.
The Rajasthan government has also set up temporary shelters at several schools in Bhusavar, Vair, Dehra Mod and Lulhara for the buses coming from Jaipur. For buses from Dausa, camps have been set up at Behnera, Barso and Mai Gujar.
The migrant labourers are housed in these shelters till further arrangements for their transport are made.
“No one will be allowed to go on foot or remain stranded. Feeding and providing them shelter is our responsibility. We are doing what we can. The walking migrants also threaten community spread of coronavirus.
“Our teams are taking special care for their screening, and food & water needs. If needed, shelter is also being arranged,” said Subodh Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary.
The District Collectors, RSRTC and other officials of the SDM level are monitoring the situation on ground and interacting with the labourers every day.
“They picked us on the way to home. We are being given water and food. They are taking care of us, screen us and give food packets,” said a labourer while boarding a bus near Dausa.
“The teams are following strict social distancing norms. The buses are not allowed to get overcrowded. Masks and proper hygiene are mandatory during travel,” said SDM Mahwa Ratan Lal Yogi.
–IANS
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