Use PM-CARES Fund to help migrant workers, Congress tells Modi govt

Criticising the central government over the migrant crisis, the Congress, said on Sunday, that instead of presiding over the plight of migrant labourers it should use the PM-CARES Fund to help them.

"How much has been collected in the fund? When will it be used? It's time this insensitive government wakes up to the plight of migrant labourers and protect them," said Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate addressing the media.

Alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) was playing petty politics, Shrinate said the Railway Ministry as well as the Central government tried to block the assistance provided by the Congress.

She said it was difficult to get permits and NOC online since some states official sites didn't work. In many cases, mobile numbers provided for coordination were found switched off, she alleged.

The Congress leader said no transport was being provided to many, stranded away from big cities, to reach railway stations. "We urge the government to earnestly announce proper rescue and relief measures for migrant labourers," she said.

Stating that in a time of crisis every human being wants to be home, with their families, Shrinate said but the migrant labourers were denied this option. "Most of them had lost their jobs," she said.

Migrant labourers had been the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and its collateral economic ruin, she said.