Migrant workers are guest workers: Odisha govt

Bhubaneswar, Apr 8 () Odisha government describedthe migrant workers as "guest workers" and said arrangementshave been made for those stranded in the state due to thelockdown in the wake of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Food and accommodation have been ensured through 1,882camps for around 56,926 such "guest workers", said Odishagovernments COVID-19 spokesman Subroto Bagchi.

He said the guest workers are being provided food andother basic amenities and doctors are regularly visiting thesecamps.

Odisha government has opened a call centre (ShramikSahayata)- 18003456703 for guest workers who need help in thestate, Bagchi said.

Apart from food and accommodation, the stategovernment was also providing psycho-social counselling inthe camps and medical services through mobile health unitshave also been extended in few districts. Even fruits and milkfor children are also being provided in the migrant workerscamps.

These migrants workers are from Uttar Pradesh, BiharHaryana, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharastra andother states, an official said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had requestedall the chief ministers to help Odia workers stranded in theirstates due to the lockdown. Patnaik in a letter to hiscounterparts in other states had also assured that the Odishagovernment will bear all the expenses made on the workers fromOdisha.

This apart, the chief minister has also appealed toOdia associations in different states to come forward to helpthe workers stranded in different states. About 2 lakh workersfrom Odisha are reportedly stranded in other states and unableto return to the state because of the nationwide lockdown.

Bagchi also said that a total of 3,25,683 destituteand helpless persons in 5,268 gram panchayats and 27,058persons in 108 urban local bodies (ULBs) within Odisha havebeen provided with food during the lockdown period. AAMRG RG