New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the Centre for proper provision in SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) for the payment of expenses incurred on interstate travel of migrant workers and others travelling within the state.

Baghel has requested the Prime Minister to give appropriate instructions to the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.

Baghel in his letter to Modi said that more than 1.50 lakh migrant workers and other persons of Chhattisgarh are stranded in other states and are anxious to return to their home due to the circumstances arising out of the lockdown.

"Workers have started returning from other states and more than 27,000 workers have returned to Chhattisgarh by their own means and bus facilities provided by the state government. Apart from this, the process of bringing back about 1.32 32 lakh workers through rail and buses has started from May 11," Baghel added.

The Chief Minister said that there is currently no provision for the workers to pay the expenses incurred in rail and bus transport from SDRF.

"The state government has also decided to provide food, water and bus facilities till state border to workers going to other states via Chhattisgarh. Large amount is expected to be spent in transport and other facilities of workers," Baghel wrote.

Baghel has written that Covid-19 has been classified as a ‘national disaster' by the government of India so as per NDMA the amount should be disbursed.

The Chief Minister said that a large amount is likely to be spent in transport and other facilities of the workers. In these circumstances, proper provision should be made in the SDRF for the payment of inter-state transport of workers and other persons and transportation expenses from one place to another within the state.