India / Assure migrant workers they'll be vaccinated & their jobs are safe: PM to states

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over migrant workers leaving several cities following the imposition of lockdown, night curfew and other restrictions by several states to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Addressing the nation on the coronavirus situation, the prime minister appealed to the state governments to urge the migrant workers to not head back to their native places.

While appealing to the states to stop the migrants' exodus, the Prime Minister requested the state governments that they should boost the confidence of the workers and convince them to stay wherever they are. This confidence by the states will greatly help the workers and labourers and they will get the vaccine wherever they are and their work will also not suffer.

PM Modi emphasised that along with saving lives, effort is to save the economic activities and ensure minimum adverse impact on the livelihood of the people. By opening vaccination for 18 years and above population, vaccine will be available quickly for the workforce in the cities, the statement released by PMO read.

PM Modi's appeal comes after scores of migrant workers have been heading to interstate bus terminals and railway stations in many parts of the country to leave for their hometowns.

PM Modi said that the country is again faced with a big battle against COVID-19 and stressed that lockdown should be the last option to tackle the coronavirus menace.