The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) wrote to all States and Union Territories on Monday to cooperate with Railways in running more number of special trains to facilitate movement of stranded migrants. In another letter it asked States to ensure that private clinics and nursing homes are allowed to open without any hindrance.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a video conference with Chief Secretaries of all States on Sunday to discuss the various issues in the ongoing lockdown imposed in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the meeting, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to States seeking compliance of Cabinet Secretary’s direction.

“...All State governments should ensure that migrant workers do not resort to walking on road and on railway tracks. In case they are found in such condition, they should appropriately be counselled, taken to nearby shelters and provided with food, water etc. till such time they are facilitated to board the Shramik Special trains or buses to their native places. As requested by Cabinet Secretary, all State governments should cooperate in running of more Shramik special trains so that travel of stranded migrant workers is facilitated at a faster rate,” the letter said.

“I urge upon you all to allow receiving of all Shramik special trains without any hindrance and facilitate faster movement of stranded migrants to their native places,” the letter said.

In another letter, States were asked to ensure smooth movement of all health workers after some of them flagged the issue of restrictions on inter-State movement of medical professionals, paramedics, sanitation staff and ambulances.

“Furthermore, the existing staff, apart from this duty, also have to render normal responsibilities, such as conducting immunisation programmes, handling the onset of vector and other seasonal diseases and meeting other non-COVID19 emergencies,” the letter said.

It said that at many places private clinics and nursing homes had not been allowed to open and the functioning of these facilities, which supplement the regular medical infrastructure and relive the burden on hospitals, was also crucial.