Chandigarh, May 6- Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal conveyed his regards to Bihar Chief Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar while interacting with stranded migrant labourers who will be returning to Bihar on special Shramik Trains arranged by the State Government and said ‘Nitish Babu ko hamara Ram Ram kahiyega.’

Giving information about this, an official spokesperson said that Mr. Manohar Lal has been personally monitoring the activity of special Shramik Train operations for sending stranded migrant labourers back to their respective home states.

He said that a special Shramik train today transported 1205 Agricultural labourers to their home states from Hisar to Katihar. Mr. Manohar Lal interacted with the labourers over mobile video call to took feedback from them regarding the arrangements to ensure that there are no lapses and asked after their well being before they boarded the train, he added. He said that the Chief Minister was informed by the agricultural labourers that they are being provided with food and accommodations at various shelter homes set up by the State Government and have even undergone medical screening ahead of their journey.

Ankeesh Kumar, a resident of Madhepura, Bihar, said that the Haryana Government has been of great help during the lockdown, but he was missing his house. Expressing happiness over his return, he said that the family members have also been called and told by the Haryana government that has made all arrangements for agricultural labourers like him to return home by the special train.

Two other migrant agricultural labourers, Prakash Mandal and Pawan Kumar who are residents of Madhepura, said that the fare to reach their house by train is more than Rs 600 and at the moment they did not even have that much money but because of the arrangement made by the Haryana Government, now they will be able to return home safely without spending a single rupee.

Another labourer, Makhan, a resident of Katihar said that 26 of his associates and him were getting all the facilities like food and medical assistance but still he felt like meeting his family. There was a ray of hope when he was informed that the Haryana Government is helping stranded migrant labourers to return home. After health checks and other formalities, he was brought to Hisar via bus where arrangements were already made for their stay and eventual departure.

Ahead of the departure of the three Shramik trains leaving tomorrow from Ambala to Katihar in Bihar, Hisar to Muzaffarpur in Bihar, and Rewari to Sagar in Madhya Pradesh which are carrying stranded migrant labourers who are associated with agricultural activities, Additional Director General of Police CID, Mr. Anil Rao said that about 3600 stranded migrant labourers who have been identified for departure for tomorrow’s scheduled trains were brought to the shelter homes set up by the State Government. He said that all arrangements regarding their food, stay and medical screening were taken care of by the Administrations. The fare of the railways for their return has been borne by the Government, he added.

He further said that special attention is being given to social distancing in the shelter homes, on the station platforms, and in the trains where 1200 labourers are being sent per train. Food packets and medical assistance is also made available to them during their journey.