‘Will take care of migrant labourers’

The Maharashtra government on Sunday appealed to the migrant workers not to leave their homes and also to avoid travelling unnecessarily. State chief minister Uddhav Thackeray assured that his government will take care of all migrant labourers and provide them basic necessities like food and water. The ‘Shiv Bhojan’ scheme offering meal at `10 will now be available at `5 for the next three months from April 1, he said in a webcast.

Mr Thackeray said as the government has asked

Uddhav Thackeray

people to maintain social distancing, they should not venture out on streets without a strong reason. “People should not force the police to take stricter stand during the lockdown. Do not unnecessarily argue with police officials,” he said.

Addressing several migrant labourers leaving the state to return to their native places, he said, “I request them to stay where they are. They should avoid increasing the risk of infection. Maharashtra government has set up 163 centres across the state and food and accommodation will be provided free of cost to them”.

Owing to the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, hundreds of migrant labourers are left with no work and as a result, they are leaving the state to return to their native places. A number of them have been marching on foot, while some tried to make their way out of the state in goods trucks and tempos, but were caught during police checking.

Addressing the people through social media, Mr Thackeray said, “I have been in talks with several leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and even with my cousin (MNS chief) Raj Thackeray. I am thankful to them for the support they have extended.”

He also said that noted banker Uday Kotak has offered a financial assistance of `10 crore in this hour of crisis.