6 more trains leaving Gujarat with 7400 stranded labourers today: Mitra

Gandhinagar : Today six more trains will be leaving Gujarat carrying about 7400 migrant labourers and other persons heading for 3 states of Orissa, UP and Bihar.

Vipul Mittra ACS labour and Employment who was appointed at the eleventh hour last evening said , Since yesterday we have been streamlining the system of labour movement in constant coordination with Railways and the other state govts.

It has been decided that trains will run on point to point basis and adequate armed security will be provided at the departing station as well as in the train.

Mittra soon review with collectors and they are working out advance lists of people to be moved for next seven days.

The host states are being intimated the entire list and phone numbers of the travelling passengers well in advance to enable them to arrange for logistics of arrival.

“Trains are being run at half their capacity to maintain social distance norms.” Said Mittra.

“ We have asked collectors to counsel the labourers beforehand so that they do not call up other persons who are not registered to the station to create a rush. We are also doing a hundred per cent screening to ensure that only asymptomatic persons are allowed to board. “ he said.

A certificate of medical screening is sent to the host state in advance.

“ We want to ensure that there is no spread of the virus as a vast number of labourers are moving, “ Mittra said.

Since yesterday a detailed systematic SOP has been circulated and collectors and railways have been asked to follow the same.

“ we want to systematise the process and ensure smooth and safe movement of lakhs of migrants in the days to come” said Mittra.

DeshGujarat

In the present times the entire movement exercise is taking place in lockdown conditions and almost entirely managed by the govt while ensuring that this does not lead to the spread of disease. “It’s a very challenging and a massive operation both in scale and complexity but we are all committed to following through in the best possible manner, “ Mittra said, “ and so we request the people to register and wait for their turn and follow the protocol. “