Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government would never leave the migrant workers to fend for themselves due to coronavirus, saying the responsibility of migrant labourers in the city lies with the government.
In a series of tweets, he said arrangements will be made for the migrants, irrespective of whether they want to stay or leave.
"The responsibility of migrant labourers living in Delhi is ours. We will ensure full care for them if they want to live here. In case they want to return to their homes, we will arrange trains for them. We won't leave them alone in such a crisis," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
He said the Delhi government has ordered all officials to ensure that no migrant labourer faced any problem.
"The government will arrange trains as many as needed for the stranded labourers."
The order dated May 15 directed the officials concerned to ensure that the migrant workers do not walk on roads or railway tracks and should be taken to the nearest shelter facilities.
Signed by Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, the order also directed the officials to ensure that there is cooperation with the railways in "running more 'Shramik' specials so that travel of stranded migrant workers is facilitated faster.
As per the official data, over 18,000 people were living in about 340 shelters across the city. The government is also arranging about 1,900 Food Centres catering to over million beneficiaries daily twice.
A number of migrants have been killed in various accidents across the country as they walked home after the sudden announcement of lockdown from March 25. Thousands of migrant workers have started returning to their native villages and hometowns on foot or in overcrowded vehicles, resulting in deaths and fatal accidents.
The Delhi government has also requested the migrants stranded in Delhi not to try to visit any railway station without getting intimation from government authorities.
It is also advised that migrant labourers should not venture out or walk on roads or railway tracks which may endanger their lives as all arrangements for their transportation by trains/buses are being planned.
The Delhi government hopes to facilitate the movement of all the stranded persons within the next fortnight, it said in a statement.
( With inputs from IANS )