The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Friday requested chief secretary Temjen Toy to provide it a list of all needy workers and migrant labourers who are currently in the state and wish to return home and the cost of their rail tickets.
“We shall deposit the necessary amount with you directly,” NPCC president K. Therie said in a letter to Toy.
Therie hoped that the chief secretary will extend necessary cooperation.
The NPCC urged Toy to contact the chairman, Task Force for COVID-I 9, and general secretary, NPCC, Capt. G.K. Zhimomi, in this connection at 9436002345, email gk.zhimomi@inc.in.
Therie said his party is also identifying such individuals and reaching out to them.
However, most workers and migrant labourers have applied to the SDOs (civil) or district magistrates to help facilitate their return journeys, he said.
He said he wrote the letter in furtherance of the decision of Congress president Sonia Gandhi on May 4 to take responsibility for the payment of return rail tickets for all needy workers and migrant labourers wishing to travel to their homes.
“It is indeed heart breaking that their return journey, which could have been handled with ease and grace, has been allowed to escalate to such levels due to the mercantile and apathetic attitude of the central government as also the railways,” the letter said.
Reiterating the commitment of the Indian National Congress in fighting the coronavirus, the NPCC said the party is committed to ensuring the payment of rail travel tickets for workers and migrant labourers.
“It is the duty of every Indian to stand by our workers and migrant labourers, who are nation builders and the ambassadors of India’s growth,” the NPCC said.