Bengal to bear all costs of special trains for migrant workers coming to state: Mamata govt
Kolkata/IBNS: Amid a showdown with the Centre over Coronavirus-related issues, the Mamata Banerjee government on Saturday said West Bengal will bear all costs of special trains meant for the stranded migrant workers' return to the eastern state.
In a letter to Railway Board chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav, West Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said, "... I would like to confirm that the entire cost of movement by special trains to West Bengal, of migrants or the State stranded in various parts of the country, shall be borne by the Government of West Bengal."
Attaching the letter, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "Saluting the toil faced by our migrant breathen, I am pleased to announce the decision of GoWB to bear the entire cost of movement for our migrant workers by special trains from other states to West Bengal. No migrant will be charged..."
Saluting the toil faced by our migrant breathen, I am pleased to announce the decision of GoWB to bear the entire cost of movement for our migrant workers by special trains from other states to West Bengal. No migrant will be charged. Letter to Rly Board attached. pic.twitter.com/6bdxn7fwB8
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 16, 2020
Slamming Banerjee for not running adequate number of trains to bring back the state's migrant workers stranded in different parts of the country due to the anti-Covid-19 lockdown, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal couple of days ago had tweeted, "I feel sad that while there is a need for 105 trains/day to bring back migrants to WB, the State is accepting only 105 trains over 30 days. I once again hope for the sake of Bengali brothers & sisters in different parts of the country, that WB will accept them back with open arms."
I feel sad that while there is a need for 105 trains/day to bring back migrants to WB, the State is accepting only 105 trains over 30 days. I once again hope for the sake of Bengali brothers & sisters in different parts of the country, that WB will accept them back with open arms
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 14, 2020
Prior to Goyal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a letter to the CM had accused the TMC government of not cooperating with the Centre to allow the trains carrying migrant labourers to enter into the state.
CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty, who has been trading charges against the TMC government in the state over its Covid-19 handling, had earlier told India Blooms that neither the Centre nor the State was taking any initiative in bringing back the migrant workers.
The Centre, which is ruled by Shah's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was also not immune to criticism as the Narendra Modi government faced flak for allegedly charging the ticket prices of special trains from the migrant workers.
The central government later clarified it will bear 85 per cent of the ticket prices leaving the rest for the respective states to pay.
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