Help migrant workers battered by Covid outbreak with Rs. 10,000: Mamata appeals to Centre

Banerjee tweeted, "People have been facing economic hardship of unimaginable proportions bcz of the ongoing pandemic. I appeal to Central Govt to transfer ₹10,000 each as one-time assistance to migrant labourers including people in unorganized sector. A portion of PM-CARES could be used for this."

To stem the spread of the contagion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mar 24 announced a nationwide lockdown which was later extended four times.

However, huge relaxations have been announced in the lockdown 5.0, which began on Jun 1, where shopping malls, restaurants, religious places, shops have been exempted.

Ever since the lockdown commenced, plights of migrant workers were unmissable with several of them walking kilometers on road in a bid to reach their homes.

Amid the political pressure and the crisis of the migrant workers, the central government in May announced Shramik Special Trains to ferry the stranded labourers.

Populist approach harms, jibes Left

Reacting to Banerjee's appeal to the Centre, CPI-M MLA Sujan Chakraborty told India Blooms, "She is just playing with words to dilute the subject. When all Opposition parties have appealed to the central government to pay monthly Rs. 7,500 to all non-tax payers for six months, is she (Mamata Banerjee) taking a stand against it?"

"Populist approach does not always yield benefit rather it harms," the Left leader added.

(Image Credit: PIB)