46% migrants back home or on way: Data
Total 46% of the country’s migrant workers have returned home or are on their way to their state of domicile, a data compiled by the chief labour commissioner of India has revealed.
The CLC’S data, updated till June 2, has been revealed under an RTI query which shows the total number of migrant workers is 2,617,218.
Chhattisgarh has the highest number of migrant workers—1,085,828—according to this estimate, followed by Kerala (2,86,846), Maharashtra (2,01,909) and Telangana (1,84,006) . These estimates, however, widely differ from the data provided by the railway ministry for its trains to take back migrant workers.
According to data provided by the CLC, just 2,63,259 migrant labourers are at relief camps of shelter homes provided by the government. Another 11,29,173 have stayed back at their workplace, the CLC data shows while 12,04,786 workers are in locations other than shelter camps or workplaces, indicating they have either been transported back home or stranded outside.
While the initial estimate of CLC was just 2,59,718 workers, Maharashtra later reported additional 20,000 workers.
The CLC data, according to officials, possibly looks at registered migrants as the railway ministry said that 4,155 Shramik trains that operated for last 33 days have ferried more than 57 lakh migrant workers home.
The Union ministry of health will be shut for two days to disinfect the premises after around a dozen people tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) in Nirman Bhawan.
Nirman Bhawan, which houses the ministry of health, ministry of power, and ministry of urban affairs, among others, will be disinfected on June 6 and 7. “Many cases are being reported and we don’t know where these cases are coming from. A lot of people are at risk; we heard a driver was infected and since carpooling is happening these days, the other four people sitting in the car also contracted the infection. That’s probably why it was thought to disinfect the building,” said an official. It is unlikely that the ministry’s health briefings are going to get affected.
The ministry issued preventive guidelines among its staff for compliance that includes wearing of masks, entry of only asymptomatic people, no loitering of employees in corridors, staggered work hours, and avoiding group lunches. “It has been noticed that at times social distancing is not being maintained in office premises. Hence, all official/staff are advised to take the precautionary measures strictly in order to contain spread of Covid-19,” said the office memo.
While people with flu-like illness have been prohibited from entering the building, those who have been tested are supposed to inform the administration and not come to work till result is out.