Nearly 5 lakh stranded citizens register with govt to return to Odisha amid lockdown

With Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government making efforts to bring back its citizens stranded in different states, a total of 4.86 lakh people have registered ir names with state government to return.

Informing about development, Odisha government's COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said, "So far, 4.86 lakh people have registered on state government's portal, which is launched for registration of migrants (who) want to return back to Odisha."

"Gram Panchayat dal officers of 6,798 GPs in state and all BDOs, who are appointed as dal officers have been trained to facilitate registration procedure," Bagchi added.

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He said that Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has geared up in arranging temporary medical camps/centres to receive migrants for quarantine in future. So far, 7,102 temporary medical camps/centres with 2.27 lakh beds have been made functional.

Odisha has made it mandatory for migrants to register ir names with state government and y will have to undergo a compulsory 14-day quarantine after ir return.

READ | 8 Fresh COVID-19 Cases Reported In Odisha, Total Mounts To 111

CM Patnaik talks to PM Modi

Meanwhile, during a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suggested formulation of a standard operating procedure for seamless movement of people stranded in different states.

Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister N K Das said he was optimistic Centre will come out with a guideline, especially for movement of migrant workers. He also said it will be wise to conduct Coronavirus tests of returnees at place of ir stay during lockdown period.

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Earlier on Thursday, Odisha government said it would press for mandatory COVID-19 testing of migrant workers at places where y are standard due to ongoing lockdown and desperate to return home immediately after lifting of restrictions.

Health Minister N K Das said he would take up matter with Centre as it would help states in handling COVID-19 situation. It will be easy for all states to handle COVID-19 situations if COVID-19 test is made mandatory for migrant workers or people interested to return to ir native states, Das said.

Eight people, including four women, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, taking total number of cases in Odisha to 111.

READ | 7 Fresh COVID-19 Cases Reported In Odisha, Total Mounts To 110