Indian Central Government Facilitates the Inter - State Movement of Stranded People including Migrant Labourer in the country, in wake of COVID -19 Pandemic lockdown

With number of COVID 19 cases crossing 30000 mark and improvement in some districts ,India is in a better control of COVID 19 pandemic.As a result of lockdown restrictions to fight COVID--19, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places in the country.

Now, the Centre has permitted the movement of these stranded persons by road.  They would be allowed to move between one State/ UT to another State/ UT, after the concerned states consult each other and mutually agree to.

It has also been impressed upon that on arrival at their destination, such person(s) would be assessed by the local health authorities, and kept in home quarantine, unless the assessment requires keeping the person in institutional quarantine. They would be kept under watch with periodic health check-ups.  

The order signed by Union Home Secretary says Buses shall be used for transport of group of persons.The buses will be sanitised and shall follow safe social distancing norms in seating.

For this purpose, States/UTs have been requested to encourage such persons to use Aarogya Setu app through which their health status can be monitored and tracked.

It is a big relief for stranded people.Emergency Manager talked with such stranded persons most of them expressed happiness. Shailesh Dube,who is stranded at Hutti Mines in Karnataka since fist phase of lock down says It is a welcome step by central government.However,big question remains will my state government of Bihar arranges buses for many of us stranded in Karnataka?

Similar sentiment was expressed by J Pandey ,resident of Patna, Bihar,who is stranded at Belgam Karnataka because of sudden cancellation of flights by Indigo.

Emergency Manager magazine thinks that state government should utilise this window of opportunity to evacuate their citizens through scientific methods of evacuation.It requires mature and planned handling of whole movement accross different states.

A big challenge will be stay en route during more than 12 hour road journey.A better solution to avoid any halt during movement will be use of multiple drivers to drive these busses.