GoM feels migrants’ movement a ‘cause of concern’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 29

A group of Ministers under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday reviewed the situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic and found the movement of migrant labourers and their gathering at various state borders as a ‘cause of concern’.

The GoM looked at various measures being implemented after the announcement of lockdown.

The Ministers briefed about the various arrangements put in place for effective implementation of the lockdown to stop spread of the coronavirus.

The Ministers were also briefed by Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla about the situation. They were briefed about the availability and supply of essential commodities such as food and medicines which are satisfactory and no major issues are envisaged in this regard.

Similarly, petroleum products are available in adequate quantities in all parts of the country. It is being ensured that supplies for a minimum of 10 days are being maintained. Cargo movement of essential commodities by train, air and road is smooth and any issues that may arise locally are being resolved, sources said.

Among the participants were Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah; Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda; Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan; Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar; Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank; Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani; Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Prakash Javadekar; Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan; Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Giriraj Singh; Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Minister of State of Housing & Urban Affairs (Independent Charge) and Minister of State of Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri; Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy.

Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

The conference was attended by several Secretaries.