Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 14: The Centre informed the Parliament on Monday September 14 that there was no data available on the number of deaths of migrant workers which occurred due to the sudden nationwide lockdown imposed amid the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

This was stated through a written reply by the ministry of labour and employment which maintained that there was 'no such data available'.

On whether any compensation or relief was provided to the victim’s family, the ministry said that as there was no data, the question of compensation does not arise.

Further, the government asserted that it had also not kept track of the job losses amid the pandemic. 'No such data is maintained,' it said.

According to a World Bank report in April this year, the nationwide lockdown, which was enforced on March 25, impacted the livelihood of nearly 40 million internal migrants.

As per the data, small traders, hawkers and daily wage labourers were the worst hit by the lockdown in April, comprising 91.2 million of the jobs lost from the total loss of 121.5 million in that month.

“This category of employment accounted for about 32 per cent of the total employment but, it suffered 75 per cent of the hit in April. Large numbers of these people lost their source of livelihood so quickly because their employment is almost entirely informal,” Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had earlier said.

Responding to the question on whether the Centre failed to assess the issues faced by these labourers, the Centre said: “India, as a nation, has responded through the Central government, state governments, local bodies, self-help groups, Resident Welfare Associations, medical health professionals, sanitation workers as well as a large number of genuine and bonafide non-governmental organizations in the Nation’s fight against the unprecedented human crisis due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and country-wide lockdown, including Tamil Nadu.”

Defending its stance, the Centre pointed out that over 4,611 Shramik Special trains were run by the Indian Railways to help the labourers return home. "More than 63.07 lac migrant workers have been shifted to various destinations located in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and other States. Food and water were also provided free of cost to the workers during their journey," it said.

However, sources stated that 110 migrants died on Railway premises during the operation of Shramik Special trains since May 1.

Meanwhile, as per the data regarding 63.07 lac stranded migrants who boarded 4,611 Shramik Special trains it was observed that the 110-odd deaths were caused due to underlying illness and Covid-19. Moreover, a couple of deaths have not been taken into account as the bodies were found on tracks — possibly, run over by trains.

In June, the Central Information Commission had earlier directed the chief labour commissioner to upload all data regarding migrant workers stranded in shelters set up by governments or by employers at workplaces or those generally clustered in districts. It had also directed that the information must be updated from time to time.

With Inputs from Agencies