Tirupati: 5,572 migrant workers sent to northern States from Chittoor

Tirupati: The Chittoor district administration has embarked on a massive exercise of providing transport to migrant labourers' return to their native states. Already the district administration had sent 5,572 migrant workers to their native states by train and special buses against about 20,000 migrant labouers from northern states working in various private establishments and also in unorganised sector in the district, according to district collector Dr Narayan Bharat Gupta.

The Collector said efforts are on to send as early as possible all the workers who desire to go back to their native places. Accordingly, a special Shramik Train will be operated from Chittoor to Bihar and also to Jharkhand for the transportation of migrant labourers from Chittoor on May 21, he said adding that plans are afoot to send soon all the remaining migrants held up in the district due to lockdown.

The migrants, who have already sent by special trains from Chittoor include Bihar 110, UP (East) 1,301, Odisha 1,384, UP 1,412 and 365 migrants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Megalaya, who were sent few days back by special buses to Vijayawada to join in the train bound for Assam, the collector said explaining that Covid-19 test and other precautions were taken and the migrants also counselled on remaining safe before their departure.

This apart, the collector said following the government instructions, the district administration took the responsibility of providing shelter and food to migrants from other states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu passing through the district on foot.

Among them, Odisha migrants were sent by special buses to the Odisha state border while those from MP and other states to Vijayawada to go to their places. A senior official said unlike other states, the Chittoor district is burdened more as it is the gateway for the migrants coming on foot from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to go to their native Northern states in addition to the 20,000 migrants in the district.

Besides, there are a sizable number of pilgrims and those came on work and were stranded in the pilgrim city and other places that are also have to be provided transport to return to their places.