A statement from the minister's office said 1.31 lakhsugarcane workers are living in temporary shelters provided inthe premises of 38 sugarcane factories in the state, whileseveral others are stuck elsewhere.
The lockdown, which has hit migrant workers hard dueto the ban on movement and has resulted in sporadic outpouringof anger, is in force across the country till May 3.
Incidentally, the state government decision to allowmigrant sugarcane workers to return to their native villageswill entail a huge number of inter-district movements.
"Good news for my sugarcane worker brothers! You canreturn to your home (villages) now. The government has issuedan order in this regard. Return to home staying within therules laid down by the government. Take care of your health aswell of your villages. Stay inside homes when you returnthere," Munde tweeted.
He also shared the circular issued by the governmentin this regard, and said the decision was taken collectivelyby the Maharashtra State Disaster Management, Help andRehabilitation and Revenue Department.
The decision will benefit sugarcane workers from Beedand Ahmednagar who are stranded in western Maharashtra, theborder areas with Karnataka and other parts of the state, astatement issued by Munde's office said.
The statement said those operating these factorieswill have to get workers and their kin tested and certified,and inform authorities, including gram panchayats, and thenobtain requisite permissions for their safe return.
"The factories' administration should ensure workersand their livestock reach their villages coordinating withdistrict collectors and gram panchayats concerned. Factorieswill have to provide meals and drinking water facilities tothe workers," the statement added.
Factories have been asked by the government to put theevacuation plans in place, it said. ENMBNM BNM