Govt to provide aid to migrants stranded in other states: Mamata

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that her government will provide financial aid and relief to migrant labourers and families from Bengal who are stranded in different parts of the country due to the ongoing lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19.

Banerjee said: "I have spoken to some of those who are stuck in different states. They have got 2 kg rice but do not have money to buy vegetables. We will be sending them a small amount of money so that they do not face any problem while staying there till May 3. Besides migrant labourers, many people who went for treatment are also stuck. Some also went to Vrindavan for a trip and have been stranded there. It is a difficult task but the maximum would be done from our end to help them."

While addressing the media at Nabanna, she stated about the Bandra incident where a large number of migrant labourers gathered to board trains to return home. Banerjee said she has already spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday and has "ensured him of all support to work out the modalities in the given situation."

She further said that the Bengal government is imposing the lockdown with a humane face and has given relaxations on the functioning of jute mills, brick kilns, tea processing units and irrigation activities with 15 per cent manpower, in adherence to all the precautionary measures.

This comes when 17 persons have tested positive in the state in the past 24 hours while five were released from the hospital on Wednesday after they tested negative, taking the total number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state to 132. As many as 42 people were released till date after they recovered from the virus.

Stating that doctors and health workers are working relentlessly without any rest, Banerjee announced that they will be getting a leave of seven days after they work for a week as it will give them an impetus to work with more energy. Referring to the incidents in which doctors and health workers were being harassed by a section of the people, Banerjee urged the womenfolk to set up "Bangajanani Group" to protest against such instances.

Banerjee also offered a state government flat to the nurse who was refused entry to her house at Ranaghat in Nadia. She also condemned the incident of attack on policemen at Jamuria.

The Chief Minister also announced that three pending Higher Secondary examinations will be held in June while students of Class XI will be promoted to the next class. Students in the final semesters of state-run colleges and universities will have to take the tests. The state government officers in the rank of Deputy Secretary and above will attend work every alternate day.

While reacting to a question related to the discrepancy in the Centre's data on COVID-19 situation in Bengal, Banerjee said: "Let their (Centre's) good senses prevail. It is not the time to do politics and even some are also creating a restricting setting up of COVID-19 hospitals in the districts. I would like to say that there are provisions to arrest these people and put them behind bars." She also urged all employers not to go for any job cuts in such a situation.