Opposition leaders and the Migrant Workers Solidarity Network had slammed the government’s response to the Parliament on Monday which said it had no data on migrant worker deaths, and so the question of compensation “does not arise”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a 21-day national lockdown on March 24, without prior warning. The lockdown had triggered a mass exodus of migrant workers to their native places from different parts of the country due to lack of jobs, money and food. Shramik Trains arranged by the government to transport stranded migrant workers back to their home state began to ply on this day. The ministry also said no data was maintained on job loss among migrant workers due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Source: Huffington Post September 15, 2020 08:26 UTC