Ramakanta Biswas

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday laid down certain guidelines and approved expenditures for smooth running of Temporary Medical Camps (TMCs)/quarantine centres for people stranded outside the State who intend to come back to Odisha after the lockdown period.

The task of managing the centres has been assigned to authorities of Gram Panchayats (GPs) in rural areas and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in urban areas where people from outside the State on their return to their villages or towns will be quarantined mandatorily for a period of 14 days before being allowed to go to their homes.

The concerned officials have been asked to keep in mind three crucial aspects such as privacy, safety and dignity. “As far as privacy is concerned, separate rooms, baths and toilets must be arranged for men and women. In case there are people from LGBT community, separate provisions should be made,” the government said in a notification.

“No discrimination of any sort shall be practised, promoted or tolerated” the government order said.

Stating that social distancing and personal hygiene as the only known method to break the chain of spread of COVID-19 infection from person to person, the government said the norms should be meticulously observed especially in camps both by the inmates and security personnel.

Similarly, the government has approved the cost of expenditure for running of the temporary medical camps. Food expenditure of Rs 120 has been fixed for adult per day and Rs 100 for child below 14 years for 14 days from the date of report in the gram panchayat and urban local body. Similarly, Rs 300 has been earmarked for personal hygiene kit which includes tooth brush, paste, tongue cleaner, soaps, oil, razor, masks, sanitary pad, mug, bottle, bucket, etc.

“Two bed sheets and two pillow covers may be procured for each bed. Procurement of Beds (cots and mattresses, pillows) may be made through hiring and hiring cost can be charged to SDRF. If these have to be procured, funds under other schemes of the concerned Department may be utilized,” the government order said.

The cleaning, sanitation and security cost per centre should not exceed Rs 2000 per day, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena stated in a circular.

The directive mentions a detailed account of persons kept in the TMC shall be maintained in a register. The data of such people shall be uploaded on the official website of the concerned district. Details of people engaged for cleaning and maintenance of the facilities shall also be maintained for a record.

According to the State health department, as many as 7102 temporary medical camps/centres with 2.27 lakh beds have been made functional in the State so far for migrants.

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