The Union home ministry has asked all the states and Union Territories to take immediate steps to provide adequate support, including food and shelter, to migrant agricultural labourers, industrial workers and other unorganised sector workers during the 21-day nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

States and UTs have been advised to ensure that students, working women from other states, among others, are allowed to continue in their existing accommodation.

The advisory from the ministry came amid reports that thousands of migrant workers and students have been stranded at various places and facing difficulties.

The advisory suggests that in order to mitigate the situation for unorganised sector workers, particularly stranded migrant workers, states/UTs need to explore measures by involving various agencies, including NGOs, to provide food and shelter with basic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation etc.

“Further, states/UTs have also been advised to make these vulnerable groups aware of the measures taken by the Government including provision of free food grains & other essential items through PDS, and streamline the distribution system. This would help prevent avoidable movement of such people, according to the advisory,” the advisory said.

MHA has also advised that states/UTs need to ensure that hotels, rented accommodations, hostels etc., continue to remain functional and delivery of essential items is streamlined so that students, working women hostel inmates etc. could continue in existing facilities, while observing precautions.