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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has made it clear that his government will bear full expenses towards the homeward journey of students and migrant workers stranded outside the state because of the lockdown, in a rebuff to the opposition which has accused him of leaving them in the lurch.
In a video message, the chief minister said train fares of students were being paid directly by his government to the railways, while migrant workers will be reimbursed the entire expenses they incurred on the journey once they have completed their 21-day quarantine after reaching Bihar.
Every migrant worker will be taken to the block headquarter concerned from the railway station where they will have to stay in quarantine for 21 days. Upon discharge, they will be reimbursed the money they would have spent for the travel in addition to an aid of Rs 500 each. Each migrant worker will be getting a minimum of Rs 1000 from the state government, Kumar said.
Regarding students, he said, no money is being charged to them for their return.
“Some trains have come from Kota..the money is being paid by the state government. But since there is some bayanbaazi (political muckraking) on the issue, dispelling the confusion has become necessary.
