A Telangana town has become a home away from home for migrant workers during the ongoing Covid-19 lockout. While migrant workers elsewhere have hit streets seeking a return home, around 650 people, lodged in eight relief camps are leading comparitvely comfortable days. The facilities situated about 200 km from capital Hyderabad holds special screenings of India movies, provides video calling facilities to be in touch with families, apart from giving food and shelter to these stranded workers.

'The authorities are providing everything, including entertainment. I am looking forward to seeing my family once the lockdown is lifted, Ramesh, a granite worker, staying in a camp in district-headquarter town Khammam, told PTI.

Ramesh said he and his seven friends bought four used motorcycles to ride back to their home in Nagaur district in Rajasthan but were stopped in Khammam.

A lot of workers like Ramesh were stopped by officials while passing through Khammam district, on their way home. They were then counselled against proceeding further, and accommodated in shelters.

'We are screening Hindi movies using television sets or with projectors. The idea is to keep them busy and also alleviate home sickness,' Khammam District Collector R V Karnan told PTI.

'Also, activities such as screening movies and video calling facilities help them overcome mental stress that they they may be enduring due to the lockdown,' he added.

Karnan further informed that immunisation camps for the children of the workers was also organised. Migrant workers contribute immensely to the development of Telangana and it was our duty to look after them during crisis situations, Karna concluded.

Telangana Minister for IT and Industries K T Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has appreciated the initiative by the Khammam district administration.

According to Karnan, there are two migrant communities in Khammam -- regulars numbering around 44,000 working in agricultural activities and others who were stopped during the lockdown.

The regular workers live with their families in the villages near the fields and are being provided 12 kg rice and Rs 500 for each person by the state government.

'We have 18 camps for the migrant labourers in Khammam district. Around 650 are staying in those camps. In order to keep them in touch with their family members we have provided video calling facilities, the Collector said.

There are eight Covid-19 positive cases and four containment clusters in Khammam district as of Thursday. Officials said all the patients are undergoing treatment in the state-run Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad.