AIZAWL, March 30 - The Mizoram government would provide food and shelter to migrant workers who are stranded in the state due to the nationwide lockdown, a state Home Department official said today.
The move was taken in pursuance to the Centre�s directive to provide food and shelter to the migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown, he also said.
The official further said that the Union Home Ministry authorised respective states to use Disaster Response Fund (DRF) for providing relief measures to migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the official, all district-level task forces were instructed to monitor relief measures for migrant workers, industrial workers and other workers of unorganised sector in their respective areas. Expenses for relief measures would be borne from the state exchequer which would be later recovered from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), he also said.
�Respective district-level task forces on Covid-19 will provide food and shelter to migrant workers, industrial and unorganised sector workers,� he said.
Meanwhile, sources said that thousands of migrant workers, contractors and unorganised sector workers mostly from Assam are stranded in Mizoram due to the lockdown. Police said that the actual figure is yet to be determined as compilation is under process.
As per the latest information, about 940 migrant workers have reported to the state government. Of these, 697 people are based in Kolasib district bordering Assam, 136 people in Aizawl district, 47 in Serchhip district and 30 each in Hnahthial and Mamit districts.
Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had written to state governments requesting them to immediately set up relief camps for migrant workers.
