Centre Permits Inter-State Movement Of Stranded Migrant Workers, Students, Tourists, Pilgrims, Etc. On Conditions

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday issued an order permitting inter-state movement of migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists etc, who are found to be asymptomatic of COVID-19.

Detailed guidelines have been issued in that regard in the order issued by the Home Secretary invoking powers under Section 10(2)(l) of the Disaster Management Act.

Migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists and other persons stranded at different places due to lockdown will be permitted to move on following conditions :

1. All States/UTs should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons. The nodal officers should also register the stranded persons within their States/UTs.
2. In case a group of stranded persons wish to move between one state/UT and another State/UT, the sending and receiving states may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road.
3. The moving persons would be screened and those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed.
4. Buses shall be used for transport of group of persons. The buses will be sanitized and shall follow safe social distancing norms in seating.
5. The States/UTs falling on the transit route will allow the passage of such persons to the receiving State/UT.
6. On arrival at their destination, such persons would be assessed by the local health authorities and kept in home quarantine, unless the assessment requires keeping the persons in institutional quarantine. They would be kept under watch with periodic health check ups.

The order states that such persons will be "encouraged" to use Aarogya Setu app for monitoring and tracking their health status.

On Monday, SC had sought the response of the Centre to a PIL which sought directions for permitting the return of migrant workers to their native places, after being tested negative for COVID-19

,