New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) While the Novel Coronavirus continued to spread it's tentacles far and wide, claiming as many as 17 lives and infecting 640 people across the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday directed both the state government and the Union Territories, to come to the aid of daily wagers and migrants labourers, by way of providing them with shelter, food and basic amenities.
While the Government stepped up it's efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and the ways to deal with any eventuality, the MHA issued an advisory to all the states and Union Territories to make adequate arrangements for the migrant labourers.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla wrote to all the states and Union Territories to take immediate steps to provide adequate support, including food and shelter, to migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and other unorganised sector workers, during the 21-day nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
Similarly, he advised the states and UTs to take steps to ensure that students and working women from other states were also allowed to continue in their existing accommodation.
The Advisory suggested that in order to mitigate the situation for unorganised sector workers, particularly the stranded migrant workers, the states and UTs need to explore measures by involving various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food and shelter with basic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation.
Further, the states were advised to make these vulnerable groups aware of the measures taken by the Government, including provision of free food grains and other essential items through the Public Distribution Systems (PDS) and streamline the distribution system.
The MHA further suggested the states and Union Territories that hotels, rented accommodations, hostels should remain functional and delivery of essential items should be streamlined, so that students, working women hostel inmates and residents were allowed to continue in existing facilities, while observing precautions.
The Government issued instructions to 62 Cantonment Boards to identify beds in hospitals, health centres and guest houses for any eventuality in view of fast-spread of coronavirus pandemic. Spread over 19 States and Union Territories across the country with a population of approximately 21 lakh, these cantonment boards have geared up to the challenge posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of the Cantonment Boards are in constant touch with civilian authorities in their respective areas and providing required assistance whenever needed. All the advisories issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are being strictly adhered to by all the Cantt Boards, a defence official said.
All the Cantonment offices buildings, residential areas, school premises, libraries, parks and markets are being sanitised regularly.
Residents are being sensitised about the COVID-19 via public announcements through loud speakers, informative notices, hoardings, pamphlets displayed at all prominent places, offices and market areas in cantonments.
Residents Medical Officers are organising workshops for all the personnel dealing with essential services and demonstrating precautions to be taken in avoiding transmission of COVID-19 and simultaneously preparing Cantonment General Hospital (CGH) for any emergencies, the official added.
'Cantt Boards are providing face masks, hand gloves, sanitizer bottles to the entire staff. All the hotels and restaurants in cantonment areas are directed to strictly follow advisory,' he said.
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