Work relaxation amid lockdown fails to convince migrants to stay put

Most labourers are more concerned about getting on trains and buses to get back home, rather than returning to work

A day after the National Democratic Alliance government announced the new lockdown norms, which will kick in from May 4, a labour contractor of a construction firm in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, swung into action to ensure that work begins on schedule.

The contractor reached out to 250-300 migrant workers living in a residential colony nearby, and told them to move to the construction site of firm Iconic Shyamal, as the new guidelines announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed construction activities in urban areas, provided workers stayed on the premises.

However, most workers refused as they were looking to board