Bhubaneswar: As India entered Day 5 of a 21-day lockdown the death toll reached 27 on Monday. In a bid to stop community transmission, the Central government has ordered sealing of all state and district borders.
In a move towards discouraging mass exodus of migrants, the Central government asked the states to ensure that even house rent is not demanded from labourers for this period. They have also sought action against anyone who asks labourers or students to vacate their homes.
The states have been told to ensure the timely payment of wages to workers at their place of work during the lockdown without any cut.
The chiefs of police and civil administrations of all states were also told to make adequate arrangements for food and shelter for poor and needy people, including migrant workers at their place of work. The central government has already issued orders allowing the use of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) funds for this purpose.
Following suit, the administration of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Noida issued orders asking landlords not to collect rent for a month from migrant labourers, students and those aspiring for different competitions amid lockdown. Additionally, the Delhi government has emptied stadiums, schools to shelter the migrants with taking care of their fooding so that they do not have to leave.
In Odisha, the Naveen Patnaik-led government too asked landlords to let go of the rent till normalcy returns.
