-The Hindu Blames ‘fake’ online messages for the panic The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the 21-day national lockdown was “inevitable” in the face of an “unprecedented global crisis” like COVID-19. The government blamed “fake and misleading” messages on social media about COVID-19 for creating widespread panic, which led to mass “barefoot” journey of migrant Workers from cities to their native villages. Please click here to...

-Business Standard Most mandis are arranging for the safety of their Workers, including load-bearers. Arrivals and supplies are being regulated to maintain flow and avoid crowding Agricultural mandis in many parts of the country have started going operational a week after the nationwide lockdown was implemented, but the process is gradual and disruption persists in some centres. Most mandis are arranging for the safety of their Workers, including mathadis (Load-bearers). Arrivals and...

-The New Indian Express Cotton farmers in Karaikal have requested the district administration to give them and farm Workers passes to carry out work in the fields in order prevent the crops from pest attack. KARAIKAL (Puducherry): Cotton farmers in Karaikal have requested the district administration to give them and farm Workers passes to carry out work in the fields in order prevent the crops from pest attack. Cotton cultivation is taken...

-Scroll.in Falling through the cracks of the public distribution system, they fear stepping out, even for food. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a national lockdown on March 24 and asked Indians to stay home in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it triggered an exodus of migrant Workers from the cities. With all work halted and public transport shut, they set off on desperate journeys, aiming to walk back...

-The Indian Express That migrants' health takes a huge beating in this process. That the already-malnourished will suffer immensely, says Chinmay Tumbe. Economist Chinmay Tumbe, author most recently of India Moving – A History of Migration and an Assistant Professor at IIM (Ahmedabad) spoke to Seema Chishti on the many implications of the surging crowds of migrants anxious to go home in the wake of the national lockdown. * Given the sudden rush...