New Delhi, Apr 11 (KNN) Union Minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) Nitin Gadkari has suggested the Prime Minister's Office to consider allowing manufacturers resume operations in areas that aren't classified as coronavirus hotspot.

Gadkari has said that the ministry was also working out guidelines in collaboration with state governments on how to bring back migrant workers to restart production in the MSME sector.

Tens of thousands of migrant workers have returned home to the countryside because of the coronavirus lockdown.

The minister, who also oversees road transport, highways and shipping, said in a video chat that his departments had responded positively to the suggestion that production as well as construction of roads and highways be resumed in areas that are not affected by the pandemic so that the impact of the lockdown is blunted.

Gadkari, however, stressed that the onus will be on the owners of MSME and construction units and contractors to ensure that their facilities are safe for workers and that there are provisions for food, shelter and healthcare.

"There are nearly 20 lakh migrant workers in government-run camps, many are stuck midway. We have to bring them back and district collectors will have to give permission for that. We are working to removed bottlenecks with the help of state governments; but the factory owners will have to ensure that workers are looked after," the minister said.

He said over 600,000 MSMEs had been restructured before March and he is hopeful that another 800,000-1 million more will be restructured in the coming months.