COVID-19: Home ministry asks states, UTs to make arrangements for migrant workers, students

The advisory suggests that in order to mitigate the situation for unorganised sector workers, particularly stranded migrant workers, states/UTs need to explore measures by involving various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food and shelter with basic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation etc.

“Further, states/UTs have also been advised to make these vulnerable groups aware of the measures taken by the Government including provision of free food grains & other essential items through PDS, and streamline the distribution system. This would help prevent avoidable movement of such people, according to the advisory,” the advisory said.

MHA has also advised that states/UTs need to ensure that hotels, rented accommodations, hostels etc., continue to remain functional and delivery of essential items is streamlined so that students, working women hostel inmates etc. could continue in existing facilities, while observing precautions.

While ensuring supply of essential goods and services, states/UTs are being repeatedly directed to enforce the lockdown strictly and take action against violators under various provisions of law. This is imperative to contain the spread of COVID-19, it said.