COVID-19: Migrants’ Return For 3 Festivals Ahead Puts Ganjam Admn In Tough Situation

Berhampur: Even as Ganjam district administration has given permission for three major festivals – Danda Nata, Thakurani Yatra and Tara Tarini Mela – in next two months, it finds itself in a tight spot in handling the migrant workers who would come from the states which have witnessed a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases of late.

The administration has given permission for Danda Nata to be held next week and Tara Tarini Mela from March 30 amid COVID-19 restrictions like wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing and maximum limit on gathering of people.

The date of the initial function of installing ‘Subha Khunti’ for the Thakurani Yatra in Berhampur has been announced. The administration will take a decision on the details in a week after consulting the stakeholders.

As is the practice in the district, its migrants working in outside states are likely to come home to participate in the festivals. The administration will find it tough to manage the situation in case of the workers coming from states like Gujarat and Maharashtra where the governments have already imposed lockdowns in some places due to resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

“The district administration has asked the panchayat representatives to keep a watch on the migrant workers after they return to their villages,” TOI quoted district collector Vijay Amruta Kulange as saying.

Though it is expected that the migrant workers will not return like last year when around 7 lakh of them had come home since they have gone to their workplaces a few months back, the doctors and health activists cautioned that strict remedial measures should be taken to prevent Ganjam from emerging as the COVID hot spot again.

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