THE Union Home Ministry today issued a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP), for movement of stranded labour within the States/Union Territories. The SOP clearly prohibits movement of labour outside the State/UT where they are currently located.
However, in the event, that a group of migrants wish to return to their places of work, within the State where they are presently located, they would be screened and those who are asymptomatic would be transported to their respective places of work.
The Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has signed the SOP.
In order to facilitate the movement of migrant workers within the State/UT, the SOP prescribes following norms-
- The migrant labourers currently residing in relief/ shelter camps in States/UTs should be registered with the concerned local Authority and their skill mapping be carried out to find out their suitability for various kinds of works.
- In the event, that a group of migrants wish to return to their places of work, within the State where they are presently located, they would be screened and those who are asymptomatic would be transported to their respective places of work.
- It may be noted that there shall be no movement of labour outside the State/UT where they are currently located.
- During the journey by bus, it would be ensured that safe social distancing norms are followed and the buses used for transport are sanitized as per the guidelines of the Health authorities.
- The National Directives for COVID-19 Management issued under the consolidated revised guidelines dated April 15, 2020 shall be strictly followed.
- The local authorities shall also provide for food and water etc., for the duration of their journey.
"Since additional new activities, outside the containment zones, have been permitted in the consolidated revised guidelines with effect from April 20, 2020, these workers could be engaged in industrial, manufacturing, construction, farming and MNREGA works", says SOP issued by the MHA.