Bhubaneswar: Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra will head the overall state response on return of persons stranded in Odisha to their home states amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Labour Commissioner N Thirumala Naik and Home Secretary Sanjeev Chopra will coordinate the process, an order from the office of Chief Secretary said.
The Labour Commissioner, who has been appointed as the State Nodal Officer, will co-ordinate with the counterpart in the receiving state, while the Home Secretary will be responsible for implementation of a decentralised system for issue of passes through district/ municipal administration. He will also finalise a standard format for the passes.
The order also included a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the same:
1. If a person or group of such persons intend to move to their state from Odisha in vehicle arranged by them, they may be advised to contact State Helpline No. 1800 34567 03 (Labour & ESI Dept.) or WhatsApp on 7008110717 or the respective District Labour Officer.
2. State Nodal Officer will co-ordinate with the District Collector/ Municipal Commissioner for screening of such workers and issuing authorisation/vehicle pass to asymptomatic persons.
3. District Collector/Municipal Commissioner will then intimate the vehicle details. passenger details and date/ time of journey with route chart to the Labour Commissioner-cum-State Nodal Officer, who will inform the receiving State for further necessary arrangements.
4. Stranded persons may apply to the respective District Collectors/Superintendents of Police/ Municipal Commissioners/ Police Commissioner for permission to travel, giving their details including destination state/ district.
5. District Collectors/ Superintendents of Police/ Municipal Commissioners/ Police Commissioner will then issue appropriate pass. with intimation to Home Departmen and the counterpart District Authority in the destination state.
