Naveen dials Yeddy, Jagan on migrants
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday reached out to B S Yediyurappa and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, his counterparts in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, to discuss the safe return of stranded Odias from the two states. During separate video-conference meetings, Naveen sought cooperation of both the chief ministers as nearly two lakh Odias including migrant workers, students, professionals and pilgrims are stuck in the two states.
“Those who want to come back to Odisha should be facilitated while those who wants to stay in Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh should do so,” Naveen said during the video-conference. Earlier, Naveen had made similar appeals to the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
While complimenting both chief ministers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for effectively managing the situation, Naveen expressed gratitude for taking care of the Odias during the lockdown. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who attended the video-conference from New Delhi, requested both the chief ministers to ensure that those who want to return to Odisha register themselves with the state government’s portal first.
It has been decided in the meeting that the chief secretaries of Odisha, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh would discuss the standard protocol for safe and dignified return of Odia people. On behalf of the state government, chief secretary Asit Tripathy requested that those returning to the state should be screened first. Tripathy said it is not advisable for people with influenza-like conditions to travel with others.
Yediyurappa assured Naveen that his government would appoint a nodal officer for coordinating the return of Odias. Both Yediyurappa and Jaganmohan also lauded Naveen for managing to contain Covid-19 in Odisha.
Jaganmohan showered praise on Naveen during the meeting. “You have been a source of inspiration for all of us. We youngsters take our inspiration from you,” said the Andhra Pradesh chief minister.
As large number of stranded Odias are expected to return to the state by road and rail, the state government has made elaborate plan to receive them and ensure their mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
The state government has identified 12 border check points for those travelling by road form different directions.
“The returnees will be stamped with indelible ink on the inner forearm of their right hand with the date of entry. The authorities will also affix a transit pass on the windscreen of the vehicles specifying the destination and route and will be considered as permit,” Tripathy said.
He directed various departments like police, transport and health to operate as a team at the border check points.
The state has given options of 14 days of home quarantine or paid quarantine to those returning to urban areas and for certain categories of people like students, professionals, children, transgenders, physically challenged and pregnant and lactating mothers in rural areas. Others will be placed in state-funded quarantine centres at the gram panchayat level.
Quarantine stickers will be affixed on the residence of returnees staying in home isolation and will be regularly monitored by the quarantine authorities.
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