NEW DELHI: In a major relief for migrant workers and others like students and tourists stranded for the past five weeks due to the nationwide lockdown, the home ministry on Wednesday allowed their inter-state movement by road, in accordance with protocols to be worked out by states receiving the workers and those where they are currently located.The Centre's decision is significant as it comes days before the second phase of the lockdown is scheduled to end amid indications that curbs in ‘red’ areas will not be eased much. As these currently include several large cities where migrant labour is usually employed, there is a strong possibility of workers remaining confined. With discontent running high among stranded workers and economic activity being limited, the Centre decided that workers be allowed to return to their home states.While the Centre expects states to ensure that the "homecoming " happens in controlled conditions, the return of lakhsof workers to their home states can potentially spell a logistical challenge, besides stiffening the task of dealing with the pandemic.The workers have remained cooped up in "host states" because of the suspension of transport, despite having no jobs or income and against their wishes. Though thousands defied the "stay-at-home" protocol to try and reach their homes, a majority of them had to stay put.The prospect of lakhs of sullen workers, raring to rush home, gorging out of their confines presents the respective state governments with the daunting task of drawing plans to manage the movement of millions in the next four days.The Centre has ruled out running trains because of the social distancing protocol which can be adhered to more effectively in buses. But the imperative only toughens the task.After their return, the workers will have to be scanned and isolated, and in cases of suspected symptoms, quarantined — an endurance-challenging requirement for states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan when the pandemic has already strained their resources.These workers have spent the past few weeks in temporary shelters and accommodation arranged by state and UT governments, NGOs and employers with food being provided at camps. The issue was also assuming political tones with some states demanding a uniform policy after UP brought back students from Kota. The transport of labour and other stranded persons was being discussed between chief ministers and the new norms allow a more organised movement of workers.Modifying Clause 17 of the MHA guidelines dated April 15 dealing with movement of persons, the home secretary on Wednesday ordered that stranded persons would be allowed to move across states and UTs subject to certain conditions. The political compulsions in various states should prompt governments to make the arrangements and foot the bills. For states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, which are recipients of such labour, the move will spell relief as it might lead to some de-congestion of slums where the risk of runaway infections is high.States and UTs will designate nodal officers for developing standard protocols for sending and receiving stranded persons including migrant labour, pilgrims, tourists and students who will need to be registered by nodal authorities. In case a group of stranded people wishes to move, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road, the order said.These people would be screened and those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed. Buses shall be used for transport of groups of people and the vehicles will be sanitised and follow safe social distancing norms in seating. Sources told TOI that inter-state movement by private vehicles can also take place but with due permission and with both the sender state and receiving state in agreement. There is no decision to allow trains that may be more crowded and less easy to monitor.States and UTs falling on the transit route will allow passage of such people. On arrival at their destination, the travellers will be assessed by local health authorities and kept in home quarantine, unless the assessment requires institutional care. They would be kept under watch with periodic health check-ups.For this purpose, such people may be encouraged to use Aarogya Setu app through which their health status can be monitored and tracked.The home ministry order allowing inter-state movement of stranded migrant workers comes 10 days after it allowed their intra-state movement, including to their places of work within the state. Similar norms for safe transportation of workers within state/UTs were prescribed in the April 19 order of the MHA.