The Mizoram government will provide food and shelter to migrant workers stranded in the state due to the nationwide lockdown, a state home department official said on Monday.

The move was taken in pursuance of the Centre’s directive to provide food and shelter to the migrant workers during the 21-day lockdown, he said.

He said the Union home ministry authorises respective states to use the disaster response fund (DRF) for providing relief measures to migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the official, all district-level task forces were instructed to monitor relief measures for migrant workers, industrial workers and other workers of the unorganised sector in their respective areas.

Expense for the relief funds would be borne from the state exchequer, which would be later recovered from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), he said. “The respective district-level task force on Covid-19 will provide food and shelter to migrant workers, industrial and unorganised sectors workers,” he said.

Sources said thousands of migrant workers, contractors and unorganised sector workers, a majority of them from Assam, were stranded in Mizoram due to the lockdown.

The police said the actual figure is yet to be determined as compilation is under process. According to latest information, about 940 migrant workers have reported to the state government.

Of these, 697 people were based in Kolasib district bordering Assam, 136 people in Aizawl district, 47 in Serchhip district and 30 each in Hnahthial and Mamit district.

Earlier, the Union home ministry had written to the states requesting them to immediately set up relief camps for migrant workers, who are returning to their domicile states during the lockdown period.

State have been advised to give wide publicity and awareness, using public information system, technology and utilising the service of volunteers, NGOs, to precise information on location of the relief camps and the facilities being made available, and relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and measure being taken by the state government.

The Centre also advised states to set up relief camps along national highways, including tents for accommodation to ensure that the moving migrant workers stay in their relief camps till the lockdown period is over.