Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the trade union affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), urged the Union government to transfer Rs 5,000 to the accounts of migrant labourers suffering because of the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The amount can be sent through direct benefit transfer through banks or postal accounts, BMS said.
According to The Print, in a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the forum pointed out the troubles faced by the migrant workers because of the lockdown necessitated by coronavirus outbreak and said they require counselling. “A massive level of counselling is required among migrant workers. The district medical authority with the help of academic institutions can conduct these counselling sessions as was done during the Tsunami," The Print quoted the letter as saying.
In its letter, the forum pointed out the unrest by migrant labourers in various parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi, due to the uncertain future they face and said it is difficult to calm the unrest prevailing in their minds. The letter further said there may be people with vested interest who add fuel to the fire in order to tarnish the image of the Centre as well as the state governments.
Hundreds of migrant labourers had taken to the streets at Paippad in Kerala’s Kottayam district on Sunday, defying the lockdown demanding transportation to their home states. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan dubbed it “unfortunate” and said that there were “anti-social elements” at play.
BMS said in the letter that it is not possible to send the migrant workers to their native places as this would increase the chance of the disease spreading to rural areas as well.
According to The Print, BMS president Saji Narayanan said instead of distributing food packets to them, it would be better to give them rations as their food habits would be different from the states they are employed in.
The forum also proposed setting up of community kitchens to feed the poor and migrant workers till the lockdown period ends.
