New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a clarification regarding the relaxation in inter-state movement of some people during the lockdown, saying that it is applicable to only distressed migrant workers, stranded pilgrims, students and tourists who had moved from their native places just before the lockdown and could not return.
“It is clarified that the MHA orders are meant to facilitate movement of such stranded persons, who had moved from their native places/workplaces, just before the lockdown period but could not return to their workplaces/native places on account of restrictions placed on movement of persons and vehicles as part of lockdown measures,” the MHA order which was issued yesterday by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla read.
The facilitation envisaged in the aforesaid orders is meant for such distressed persons, but does not extend to those categories of persons, who are otherwise residing normally at places, other than the native places for purposes of work etc., and who wish to visit their native places in normal course, the communication to Chief Secretaries on States read.
Several people including migrants labourers, students, pilgrims and tourists are stranded in the country since the lockdown kicked-in from March 25.
The MHA on Friday issued an order allowing Railways to operate trains to ferry migrant labourers to their native places on the consent on two states and following the social distancing norms, i.e., keeping distance between passengers in such trains.
The nationwide lockdown has entered its third phase from today as it was extended by two more weeks on Friday till May 17. the initial 21-day lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 night and was further extended by 19 days on April 14 (Till May 3).
