Assam to Allow 3 Day Inter District Movement for Migrant workers
GUWAHATI: In a relief for the people stuck in various parts of the state, the Assam government has decided to allow inter-district movement for a period of three days to help those stranded in different parts of the state because of the coronavirus lockdown.
According to health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, nearly one lakh people have been issued passes for the “conditional” movement, Sarma said that from 25 – 27 April, people will be allowed to commute back to their respective natives.
Further, if a citizen owns his own car and got stuck at a different district due to lockdown, will be allowed to commute without any hassle by taking prior permission from the respective Deputy Commissioners.
“This movement will be strictly on the basis of the guidelines of the Union Home Ministry, and special passes will be issued by each of the district authorities after verification of the applications,” he said.
The government has opened a three-day window – April 25, 26 and 27 – to allow those who want to go to their homes. Employees who want to reach their districts of posting, and patients who need to go to hospitals on referral, have also been issued the passes.
Migrant workers stranded because of the coronavirus lockdown have also been allowed to go to their hometowns within the state. Over 51,000 intrastate travel passes have been given to those who will travel from their personal cars; 12,000 out of the total will travel on April 25.
41,000 people with no personal vehicles have also been issued the passes. To facilitate their travel the state will run Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) buses free of cost.
Most of the businesses across the country have been shut since, the means of transport banned and movement of people severely restricted. The lockdown had also led to a humanitarian crisis as lakhs of migrant workers across the country were left without jobs and money.
Migrant workers who wish to return to their places of work within the state where they are presently located must be screened for coronavirus, it had said. Assam has reported 35 coronavirus cases, including one death.
(Bureau Report with agency Inputs ).
