COVID19: Odisha to use school, hostel buildings as temporary shelters for migrant workers

Bhubaneswar: Taking cognizance of the thousands of migrant labourers returning home following the nationwide lockdown due to rise in COVID-19 cases, Odisha government has decided to keep them at isolated places in the State to avoid spread of coronavirus.

Migrant labourers, who are reaching their villages and hometowns from inside and outside of Odisha on foot amid the unavailability of transportation facilities,will now stay isolated in the school and hostel buildings across the State.

The General Administration Principal Secretary Sanjeev Chopra in a letter to all the district collectors and municipal commissioners on Saturday asked them to use the school and hostel buildings, which are closed now, as temporary shelters to house the migrant labourers in their districts and municipal corporations.

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The collectors were also asked to make all basic amenities available to the migrant workers in the school and hostel buildings till the lockdown period end, following social distancing guidelines.

Due to #21daysLockdown across #Odisha, many migrant workers from inside & outside of the State have decided to return to their hometowns. District Collectors & Municipal Commissioners may use closed down school & college buildings as temporary shelters to help them. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/fsx2dTST8m

— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) March 28, 2020

Besides, the Odisha government issued helpline numbers, landline no. - 0674 2392115 and WhatsApp No.- 9438915986 for migrant Odia workers stranded in other states of the country.

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Similarly, workers from other states stranded in Odisha can call on landline no. - 1800 3456703 to register any issues faced by them.

Kindly note the Helpline number for migrant Odia workers stranded in other States & workers from other States stranded in #Odisha: 1800 34567 03. Email: scc.migrantworkers@gmail.com. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/w9MuGu21zl

— H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) March 28, 2020

Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought coordination and cooperation among states for people who are stranded and cut-off from their home states following the imposition of nation-wide lockdown.

“We understand that many may be under distress in this regard and I would make an earnest appeal to you that any person or group of persons from Odisha stranded in any part of your state may please be assisted with basic food, accommodation, security etc. I will be grateful if this message is passed on to all the district collectors of your state. Odisha will bear whatever cost is needed for their safe keeping,” Patnaik said in a letter to his counterparts in other States.

The CM also directed all the district collectors to assist persons in need from other states.