Mandatory 14-Day Institutional Quarantine : MHA Issues SOP For Return Of Indians Stranded Abroad

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for return of Indians who are stranded abroad.

They have to register themselves at Indian missions in the country where they are stranded, along with necessary details as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs..

They will travel to India by non scheduled commercial flights to be arranged by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and naval ships to be arranged by the Department of Military Affairs.

Only people showing no symptoms of Covid-19 will be allowed to travel. The MHA also said that priority will be given for travel from abroad to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers who have been laid off as well as people faced with the expiry of short term visas, those with a medical emergency, pregnant women and the elderly. Those required to return to India due to death of family member, and students will also be given priority.

The cost of travel, as specified by the MCA or DMA, will be borne by the the travellers.

After return to India, they will be kept under institutional quarantine for 14 days.

They have to download 'Arogya Setu' app on their mobile devices.

Once travel arrangements have been made and all requisite information is collected, the MEA will be contacting nodal officers appointed by it for each Indian state to bring back citizens. MEA will also display the schedule and passenger details of all incoming flights/ships online two days in advance.

It was on Monday that the MHA announced its decision to facilitate the return of Indian from abroad in a phased manner from May 7.

Several petitions are pending in the Supreme Court and various High Courts seeking directions for repatriation of Indians from abroad.