Stranded outside Odisha? Know how to return to home state

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy today detailed modalities for safe return of Odia migrants stranded outside the state due to nationwide lockdown.

Briefing a presser, Tripathy said that pre-registration is mandatory on Odisha Government’s COVID-19 portal https://covid19.odisha.gov.in/ for the migrants, who want to return to the home state.

A total of 4.86 lakh people had registered on the state government’s portal in the first 48 hours of launching the website after Naveen-led government announced to bring back its people stranded in different states. The validation is underway by the district administrations and sarpanches.

The persons including migrant workers, professionals, students and patients stranded outside Odisha due to lockdown restrictions, can register their names with the state government to return before they plan for travelling to their respective destinations in home state.

The passengers can travel to Odisha by two means — by road or by train. As per the circular issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, the passengers need to obtain pass from the district authority of the state where they are stranded due to lockdown following which they can travel to Odisha by road.

The migrants with permission from the district authority and following pre-registration can enter into Odisha through 11 check points from other states. The check points included Birmatrapur in Sundargarh, Champua in Keonjhar, Chandili in Koraput, Girisola in Ganjam, Jamsola in Mayurbhanj, Kerada in Rayagada, Khariar Road in Nuapada, Laxmannath in Balasore, Loharchatti in Bargarh, Motu in Malkangiri and Sunki in Koraput.

A multi-disciplinary team comprising of police, road transport authorities, health authorities is present at each check point to verify the uploaded credentials of migrants. In case, they might have missed to undergo the pre-registration process, spot registration can be done at the check points, Tripathy informed.

“I have requested the Chief Secretaries of all the states where Odia migrants are appealing to return to Odisha to check their pre-registrations before they allow them for travel,” he told media.

The passengers will undergo screening before boarding the train or hired vehicle. At the check points after they enter into Odisha, they will have indelible ink for stamping on their right hand for identification. After they reach their destinations, they will be sent for home quarantine or institutional quarantine for a period of 14 days.

Similarly, arrangements will be made for the passengers coming by train at particular railway stations from where they will be sent for quarantine for a fortnight as part of preventive measure to curb spread of COVID-19.

The Chief Secretary said that home quarantine has been set as a preferable mode both in urban and rural areas. A sticker will be put up in front of their houses. If any returnee will not have facility at home for quarantine, he/she will be sent to the institutional quarantine. They can opt for paid quarantine in rural and urban areas.