Hyderabad: The Chief Secretary of Telangana, Somesh Kumar held a review meeting with officials and framed a protocol for the movement of those stranded migrant workers. In this regard, the government has nominated senior bureaucrat Sandeep Kumar Sultania, as nodal authority.
This announcement came on the same day, when the ministry of Home affairs (MHA), permitted migrant workers, especially those stranded in different states due to the lockdown, to return to their homes. In an official communication issued on Wednesday, the MHA said, “Due to the lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students, and other persons are stranded in different places. They will be allowed to move.”
Following this, the Chief Secretary informed that, a letter has been addressed to Chief Secretaries of all States to provide details of persons from their respective states who are stranded in Telangana. ” We have also requested other states to arrange for transport in order to pick stranded migrants in Telangana. The nodal authority will arrange for screening of the persons and passes to the asymptomatic persons for undertaking the journey. Any stranded person who wish to move to their native state are requested to be in touch with their native state for transport arrangement. Government of Telangana will permit stranded persons to move to their native state’ said the Officer Somesh Kumar.
Even while the Centre has permitted the migrant workers to travel, certain rules have been put in place like screening of people.
1. Only those who show no symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to travel.
2. Buses will be used to transport them, they will be sanitised, and social distancing norms in seating will be followed.
3. States that fall along the transit route will allow the passage of such persons to the receiving state/UT.
However, on arrival, local health authorities will assess their condition and those entering the state will be kept on home quarantine, unless the assessment requires that the person be kept on institutional (hospital) quarantine. They will be kept under watch and periodic health check-ups will be conducted, the Centre has directed.
The MHA has directed the states to monitor the health of those who travel from one state to another by using the Aarogya Setu app.
