Odisha begins process to bring back people stranded outside due to lockdown

Bhubaneswar:  In yet another significant move in the battle against coronavirus, the Odisha Government today announced that it has begun  process to bring back people of the state stranded outside due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

At the 4.30 COVID-19 briefing, Principal Secretary to Panchayati Raj Department DK Singh said the Government would introduce an online portal, through which thousands of people stranded in various states will register to get back to the state once the lockdown is relaxed.  The registration will begin on April 24.

He said, “around 7.50 lakh people from the state are stranded in other states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh. Since they are desperate to get back to their hometowns, the Odisha Government is developing an online portal, through which they will mandatorily have to register for their return.”

Detailing further, Singh said the registration can be done in three ways: the person concerned will register on the portal himself/herself or (2) anyone else will do it on behalf of the person (3) a relative of the person will fill a form and submit it to the official concerned at Gram Panchayat (GP) level who will do the registration.

Through the registration, the Government will get to know about the details about the returnees and make arrangements for transport and other medical facilities for them at respective Gram Panchayat  level, Singh said.

“Once they arrive, they will be sent on quarantine at temporary medical camps set up at GP level for 14 days. They will be allowed to go back to their houses once they are declared fit. No home quarantine will be allowed,” Singh added.