Ensure lockdown effectively: Shah to states

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday directed all States and Union Territories to ensure effective implementation of the lockdown measures by maintaining social distance along with mitigating the economic hardship of the migrant workers.

In order to ensure effective implementation of the lockdown measures, and to mitigate the economic hardship of the migrant workers, all States and UTs have been advised to take additional measures such as adequate arrangements of temporary shelters, and provision of food for the poor and needy people, including migrant labourers, stranded due to lockdown measures in their respective areas.

The migrant people, who have moved out to reach their home states or home towns, to be kept in the nearest shelter by the respective State or UT Government quarantine facilities after proper screening for a minimum period of 14 days as per standard health protocol whereas all the employers, be it in the Industry or in the shops and commercial establishments, to make payment of wages of their workers, at their work places, on the due date, without any deduction, for the period their establishments are under closure during the lockdown.

The Home Minister has also asked States to ensured that wherever the workers, including the migrants, are living in rented accommodation, the landlords of those properties must not demand payment of rent for a period of one month and if any landlord is forcing labourers and students to vacate their premises, they will be liable for action under the Act.

The order stated that in case of violation of any of the above measures, the respective State or UT Government, would take necessary action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendant of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police would be personally liable for implementation of the above directions and lockdown measures issued earlier.