Facilitate faster movement of stranded migrant workers: MHA to state govts

Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), wrote to all States/UTs to facilitate faster movement of stranded migrant workers to their native places, through buses and 'Shramik' special trains being run by the Government specifically for this purpose.

The communication highlighted the situation wherein migrant workers are walking on the roads and on railway tracks. All States/UTs were advised that in case they are found in such condition, they should be appropriately counselled, taken to nearby shelters and provided with food, water, etc. till they are facilitated to board the 'Shramik' special trains or buses to their native places.

However, instances of migrant workers walking on roads, railway tracks and travelling in trucks are still being reported from different parts of the country. In view of this, MHA has again written to all States/UTs to facilitate that these migrant workers do not have to walk back home.

The communication states that Ministry of Railways is running more than 100 'Shramik' special trains per day and is ready to arrange additional trains, as per requirement. People need to be made aware about these arrangements and counselled by State/UT governments to not travel on foot, when they can travel in buses/trains being specially run by the government to facilitate their journey.

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As part of the Road Safety Network, Consumer VOICE has been maintaining a ‘Road Crash Tracker’ to document road crash deaths and traffic violations during the lockdown from Mar 24th till date. So far, 1,176 road crashes with 321 fatalities have been documented.  

“We have submitted a list of 15 recommendations to ensure the safety of migrants traveling on road. The recommendations are aimed at mitigating specific risk factors like speeding,  driving while fatigued, overcrowding etc. Some of the recommendations are specifically towards the safety of migrant workers returning home” said, Ashim Sanyal, COO,Consumer VOICE organisation part of Road Safety Network.  

“While we welcome the decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to run special trains and buses for ferrying migrants, students and stranded tourists to their hometowns, we remain concerned about the safety of drivers and passengers on journeys by road", said the letter addressed to the Union Home Secretary. Media reports indicate that driver fatigue combined with speeding has been responsible for the recent crashes. In order to assist the Government of India to keep the road-users, especially passengers using the migrant bus services safe during these journeys the Road Safety Network has shared a set of safety protocols with the Government. The measures proposed include temporary lanes for cyclists and pedestrians on highways and urban roads, thorough briefing to bus drivers w.r.t emergency protocols, identifying rest areas where food and water can be provided to travellers, engaging drivers well-trained in long-distance driving and familiar with particular terrains.

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