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Bhubaneswar: The agony of the migrant workers returning to Odisha shows no sign of abating as reports of them being subjected to discrimination continue to surface in the State.
Migrant returnees are reportedly being denied entry to their villages even after completion of quarantine period in several places across the State.
In Narla block of Kalahandi, some migrants were reportedly denied entry to their village even after 14-day quarantine as their COVID test is yet to be conducted.
"The government has reduced quarantine period of the returnees and also not conducting their COVID test before allowing them to go home. It is increasing apprehension among villagers and their family members are also not accepting them," said a local, Kulamani Ufer.
Besides, as many as 27 migrants of Nuapada's Khairabadi village are living in a state of anxiety and don't want to go home after completion of their seven-day institutional quarantine as their COVID test has not been conducted, and they are now forced to stay in a school building.
"We were allowed to stay at the quarantine centre for seven days instead of 14 days, but our COVID test was not conducted. We fear that the virus may spread to our family members and so, we are staying at the school," said a migrant.
Terming the incidents as unfortunate, State BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said that the government must increase its testing capacity to contain the spread of COVID-19, especially in the rural areas.
"No returnee should be allowed to leave home without COVID test. The government must ensure that test of all the migrants is conducted and only those with negative results should be allowed to leave the quarantine facility," he said.
Responding to the reports of migrants' sufferings, State Health Minister Naba Das said, "The elected representatives and local sarpanchs in such areas must hold meetings with the locals regularly and create awareness that our fight is against COVID-19 and not those affected by the virus."
Odisha government had earlier revised the quarantine norms for returnees, reducing the institutional quarantine period from 21 to seven days followed by a week in home isolation (for asymptomatic persons).
However, in urban areas, returnees will have to stay in home quarantine for a period of 14 days by strictly observing the COVID-19 guidelines.
Edited By: Suryakant Jena
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