New Delhi: PM Modi in his address to the nation on Covid-19 urged the migrant workers to not leave the cities as the situation won’t affect their livelihood. He also appealed to the migrants to avoid returning to their home states.
In the live televised address to the nation, PM Modi said, “The assurance given by the state will help migrants believe that they will soon be vaccinated in the city where they are living and their livelihood will also not be affected."
He also tried to reduce the paranoia around Covid-19. He also suggested that there won’t be a complete lockdown-like situation this year as the situation is “very different” from what it was last year. “In today's situation, we have to save the country from lockdown. I would also request the states to use lockdown as the last option. Have to try hard to avoid lockdown. And the focus is on Micro Containment Zone only,” PM said.
During the Corona Lockdown in March 2020, many migrant t workers fled to their home states using unconventional means as all formal ways of traveling were shut. This caused tremendous problems for the migrant workers. Thus, addressing the migrant issue, Modi said, “My request to the state administration is to keep the trust of the workers alive, urge them to stay where they are. This trust given by the states will help them very much that the city they are in will be vaccinated in the next few days and their work will not stop.”
PM Modi said that mini-lockdowns and containment zones can be the way to move ahead.