The lockdown badly affected the daily-wage migrant workers across the country (File)
No inter-state travel of migrant workers must be allowed after the centre implements its decision to open some economic activities in non-hotspot areas from tomorrow, the Union Home Ministry said in its advisory to the states on Sunday. It also said the workers stranded in relief camps because of the lockdown must register with the local authorities to "find out their suitability for various kinds of work".
"It may be noted that there shall be no movement of labour outside the state/UT from where they are currently located," the advisory said.
"The migrant labourers currently residing in relief/shelter camps should be registered with the concerned local authority and their skill mapping be carried out to find out their suitability for various kinds of work," it added.
The centre last week announced that it would allow some construction activities and industrial operations in rural areas from April 20. Offices of Government of India and offices of states and union territories, private vehicles for emergency services, e-commerce companies selling essential goods; courier services, MNREGA works and financial sector will also be allowed to function.
"Since additional new activities, outside the containment zones, have been permitted in the consolidated revised guidelines with effect from 20th April 20, these workers could be engaged in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MNREGA works," the ministry said in the statement.
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 said. Only those with no symptoms must be transported to their places of work, it added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month announced a three-week nationwide lockdown, shutting down most of the businesses, suspending all modes of public transport, and banning all movements except for essential services. He later extended the lockdown till May 3 to arrest the growth in the number of coronavirus cases in the country. Experts say the lockdown will put a massive burden on the economy.
The lockdown badly hit the daily-wage migrant workers in metropolitan cities as they lost their livelihoods. With no means of sustenance, thousands attempted to walk back to their home towns last month, only to be intercepted by the authorities. The centre had ordered the states to strictly enforce the lockdown, and provide food and shelter to those distressed.