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New Delhi, April 12 (IANS): The Union Home Ministry, here on Sunday, asked states and the Union Territories to abide by the Supreme Court's order on dealing with migrant workers in a humane manner.
Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in a letter to the Chief Secretaries of states and the administrators of UTs said they should take necessary action in compliance with the apex court's direction while implementing the lockdown.
The Supreme Court's directions were linked to welfare of migrant labourers, housed at relief camps in different parts of the country.
As per the apex court order, the states and the UTs should ensure adequate medical facilities, proper arrangements for food, clean drinking water and sanitation at these camps.
Further, trained counsellors and/or community group leaders belonging to all faiths should visit the camps to deal with any consternation that the migrants might be going through.
The court said the migrants' anxiety and fear should be understood by the police and other authorities, and that they should deal with them in a humane manner. The state governments and UTs should engage volunteers along with the police to supervise the welfare of migrants, it said.
The MHA communication also reiterates the directions in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's letter to states and UTs. The Health Ministry has already issued detailed guidelines to deal with psychosocial issues among migrants.
The Supreme Court's intervention came following a plea that the migrant workers were facing problems due to the pandemic as they had lost jobs and were unable to meet their basic needs.