Tripura to send back 33,000 migrant workers; team constituted to coordinate the transfer

Tripura has decided to send back 33,000 migrant workers to their respective states, largely by train, chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Monday. A letter issued by Tripura chief secretary Manoj Kumar said that the matter has already been taken up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, these states and Ministry of Railways. General Manager, North East Frontier is the nodal officer for arranging trains for stranded people in Tripura.

The Chief Minister further said that a team would be constituted in order to facilitate and coordinate the transfer of migrant workers as per the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP).

In an order issued on May 1, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) allowed the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students, and other persons stranded at different places by special trains.

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Centre arranges Shramik Special Trains

The Indian Railways has launched an initiative wherein special trains will run from specific destinations to the hometowns of several stranded migrants, labour workforce, students, pilgrims, tourists and special requirement of persons amid the lockdown. According to reports, the state authorities and Indian Railways will work in a collaborative effort to minimize contact through special social distancing and running the trains at a set percentage of its capacity.

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(Image credit: PTI)