New Delhi:  Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on ABP News's e-Shikhar Sammelan said it’s the worst time in the last six years for India, but all migrant labourers will reach their homes in a week’s time. The situation has been controlled because of the lockdown, emphasised the minister.

Even as the country has managed to keep the damage minimal as compared to the rest of the world, the minister said in the next two days the developments around new restrictions will be unveiled. The most affected 11 cities from Covid-19 will continue to remain in strict restrictions while villages and other remote areas may not need to follow the restrictions, he added. The terms may change depending on the situation and action will be taken as required.

In 15 days six lakh labourers have returned to their villages. He said that workers are also scared and wanted to take their families along with them. “We have saved the lives and now the focus is to ensure livelihood. They will come back on their own some may come now and others may follow later,” stated the minister.

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On the incentive schemes for the workers, “The atmanirbhar bharat package has been aimed at them and to lift the conditions of the workers. The labourers will definitely benefit from the package.”

On ensuring that labourers can be given better condition, the minister said the government is mulling a PPP project.

Those businesses which didn’t take care of their labours and didn’t pay them are the ones who have seen their workers leaving.

Every country is experiencing different conditions and peak in the Covid-19. “It is a trial and error. We are fighting a difficult situation and people have shown faith in India and also understand that their jobs will also be taken care of,” he added.

The government is reviewing the situation in every 15 days and every time new directives have been released according to the situation.  The government is planning to provide rooms on rent under private-public partnership mode at the factory site. "This will help workers to stay and work at the same place, informed the minister.

On the Indo-China standoff, the minister said India will take its own stand to protect its interest.  India has started producing all of it in four months from ventilators to masks and achieved self-reliance to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.