Lok Sabha Question No. 294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Financial Assistance to Migrants
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 294

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020/BHADRAPADA 24, 1942 (SAKA)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MIGRANTS

294.  SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  had  monitored  the  distress  migration  of  people  on foot  from  Delhi  to  other  States  during  COVID-19 lockdown  and if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any data on the number of persons who died on road while trying to reach their home States during COVID-19 lockdown;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  financial  assistance  to  migrants  who lost their income source during COVID-19 lockdown; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): Central  Government  was  fully  conscious  that  during  the  period  of  an inevitable  lockdown,  people  should  not  be  deprived  of  essential  supplies.  The situation  was  closely  monitored  24*7  through  Control  Rooms  at  national  level. With a view to provide food, health care and shelter to homeless people including migrant workers, Central Government on 28.03.2020, allowed the State Governments to use State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for this purpose.

## LS.US.Q.NO.294 FOR 15.09.2020

Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  also  issued  regular  advisories  to  States/Union Territories (UTs) to take all necessary measures to provide shelters, food, water, health facilities and also proper counseling to migrant workers.

MHA  on  19 th   April,  2020  allowed  movement  of  migrant  workers  within  the States/UTs  so  that  these  workers  could  be  engaged  in  industrial,  farming, construction, manufacturing and MNREGA works as additional new activities were permitted  outside  containment  zones  with  effect  from  20.04.2020.  MHA  vide orders dated 29 th  April and 1 st   May 2020, further allowed  movement of migrants workers to their native places by buses and Shramik special trains respectively.

(b) and (c): Data on the number of persons who died on road while trying to reach their home State during COVID-19 lockdown is not centrally maintained. However, all necessary steps were taken by Central Government to facilitate the movement of migrant workers.

(d)  and  (e):  The  Central  Government,  on  26 th   March,  2020  announced  a  relief package  under  the  'Pradhan  Mantri  Garib  Kalyan  Yojana',  totaling  Rs.1.70  lakh crore for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus. Around 42 crore poor people have received financial assistance of Rs. 68, 820  crore under this  scheme.  Further  the  Central  Government  have  launched  the  'Garib  Kalyan Rojgar  Abhiyaan'  on 20 th June, 2020  to boost  employment  and  livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returning to villages, in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

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