In a letter, the Centre has asked states and UTs to ensure the smooth movement of all medical professionals, paramedic staff, sanitation personnel and ambulances during lockdown.
Agencies
New Delhi, May 11:
Raising an objection to restrictions on the movement of healthcare providers, the Centre has written to the states and Union Territories and asked them to ensure smooth movement of medical professionals during the lockdown.
In a letter, the Ministry of Home Affairs objected to restrictions imposed by some states and UTs on movement of doctors, para-medics. Saying they are vital to healthcare services, the MHA asked the state to remove these restrictions.
“Restrictions on movement of medical professionals can lead to severe constraints in rendering Covid, non-Covid services,” Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to Chief Secretaries of states and UTs.
Besides smooth movement of paramedics, sanitation personnel and ambulances, the Centre also directed states to ensure opening of all private clinics with all medical staff. “Such movement will also be facilitated inter-state,” the letter stated.
Centre asks state to ensure migrants don’t resort to walking on road or railway tracks
The Centre said it has noted with great concern that migrant workers continue to walk on roads and railway tracks to return to their native places. In the letter, the MHA asked states to ensure that migrant workers travel home on the special trains being run for them from various parts of the country.
“Since their movement by buses and ‘Shramik’ special trains has already been allowed to enable their travel to native places, all State/UT governments should ensure that migrant workers do not resort to walking on road and on railway tracks,” Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said.
In case they are found in such condition, the home secretary said, they should be appropriately counselled, taken to nearby shelters and provided with food, water etc. till such time they are facilitated to board the Shramik Special trains or buses to their native places.
The Centre requested all state/UT governments to cooperate with the railways in running more Shramik Special trains so that travel of stranded migrant workers is facilitated at a faster rate.
