India’s Supreme Court ordered the government on Tuesday to transport migrant workers displaced from the COVID-19 lockdown home within 15 days and encouraged state governments to withdraw charges against migrant workers who broke lockdown measures.

The Supreme Court’s decision allows migrant workers who work in India’s major cities to return to their villages. The nationwide lockdown that began on March 25 imposed fines and year-long prison sentences for those who violated lockdown measures as part of section 51 of Disaster Management Act. The lockdown particularly impacted migrant workers, many of whom attempted to return home by foot.

The court order requires governments to transport migrant workers back to their hometowns within 15 days by bus or train, with a further order for railways to operate 171 trains within 24 hours to aid in this transportation.

Millions of workers in India are unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more on COVID-19, see our special coverage.