4,000 migrants reach state every day: Bihar transport minister Santosh Kumar 'Nirala

PATNA: Transport minister Santosh Kumar ‘Nirala’ talks to Faryal Rumi about the steps being taken by the state government to ensure that the migrant workers returning to Bihar reach home safely. Excerpts:
What steps is the government taking to provide relief to the migrants returning to Bihar on foot?
The government has already urged migrant workers not to come back to Bihar on foot because special trains are being run from different parts of the country. For those, who had already reached the state, the transport department deployed buses and made sure that they were sent back to their native places after being screened properly in three border districts — Kaimur, Buxar and Gopalganj.
How many migrants have travelled by the buses provided by the government in the three districts?
Over 50,000 migrant workers have been picked from Kaimur, Buxar and Gopalganj so far and sent back home. We have also provided free bus services to those reaching Bihar by trains. Approximately 4,000 migrants are returning to the state every day, which means that around 3 lakh of them have reached Bihar by trains or private vehicles and even on foot.
Do the migrants get food and accommodation facilities in the border districts?
Shelters for providing food and accommodation to the migrants have been created in the border districts. The officials concerned make sure that the arrangements are up to the mark.
What provisions have been made for issuing special passes to private vehicles?
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has announced that the people stranded in other states should contact the local authorities or the nodal officers for getting special passes issued amid the lockdown.
What help is the government providing to those killed in road accidents while travelling to Bihar?
Such incidents have saddened the state government. It has, therefore, announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for families that have lost two or more members even in road accidents outside the state. At present, this provision is not for individuals, who are killed in accidents.