Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has ensured all necessary arrangements for more than 2 lakh migrant labourers from 16 states in Bengal who are currently stuck due to the lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19.
At present, there are 711 shelters across the state where 2 lakh migrants are staying since April 1. The state government is leaving no stone unturned to provide them with all the basic facilities as returning home for them seems to be a distant possibility, considering the restrictions in mind.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted in this connection and stated: "Over 2 lakh migrant labourers and stranded people from 16 Indian states are being housed in 711 camps across West Bengal. They are being directly taken care of by the government of West Bengal along with a few NGOs under its supervision. This arrangement since April 1 will continue until the need remains."
Banerjee also spoke on it while addressing a meeting with the industrialists and representatives of different Chambers of Commerce at Nabanna Sabhaghar on Thursday.
Banerjee was the first Chief Minister in the country to take the initiative and instructed state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha to write to his counterparts in 18 states to take care of the migrant labourers from Bengal who are stuck in their respective states. Bengal government had also assured that it will also ensure the same for those who are stranded here.
More than 1.5 lakh people from Bengal are also stuck in different parts of the country. The state government is in constant touch to learn about their problems and difficulties.
The Centre had also advised each state to make necessary arrangements for the migrant labourers as restrictions were imposed on inter-state movement of people.
The state government is also prepared to provide all necessary support to the migrant workers in case the lockdown is extended.
Meanwhile, 12 new cases were reported on Thursday. Three have been cured and have been sent home while no deaths have been registered. The current count of active cases in the state is 80.
After a meeting with trade and industry representatives, Banerjee said the state government is contemplating the idea of minimal transportation like giving a go-ahead to taxis to hit the streets again, but carrying not more than four persons, including the driver.
"But whatever we do, it has to be done honouring the lockdown for the sake of human lives," she said.
The Chief Minister added that chances of schools reopening were quite slim, and that dry rations to the beneficiaries of mid-day meals will be distributed in the first week of May.
The state government on Thursday launched a mobile app "Sandhane" for ASHA workers — who would conduct surveys and upload information on areas, where people in large numbers were exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
The administration, with the help of the information from the app, will earmark vulnerable areas and take necessary action to contain the spread of the disease.
Showing a map where a number of people were found infected, Banerjee said eight hotspots have been identified in Bengal.