Kerala: Stranded migrant labourers protest, demand to be sent back to native places

Migrant labourers in Payyoli town of Kozhikode district held a protest demanding to be sent back to their native states as coronavirus-induced lockdown continues.

In the incident which took place on May 4, some labourers were detained and later released.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed the movement of people -- including migrant labours, workers, students, tourists and others -- and also provided the procedure for the same.

Welcoming the Centre's decision to allow inter-state movement of migrant labourers, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on April 30 had demanded special non-stop trains for them.

"There are 3.6 lakh migrant workers staying in 20,826 camps spread across Kerala. Most of them want to go back to their native places. A large percentage of the guest labourers in Kerala are from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh," said the Chief Minister while speaking to reporters here.

(ANI)

Also Read: COVID-19 Lockdown Update: Stranded migrants return to Jharkhand from Rajasthan