Thiruvananthapuram, 05 May: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today welcomed the decision of the Government of India to evacuate the Pravasies and those stranded in foreign countries but expressed concern over bringing them back without Covid testing before the flights. The State is also apprehensive about the limited number of people being brought back.
The total number of Pravasi Malayalees who have registered on the Norka website expressing their desire to return to Kerala is 4.27 lakhs. Out of this 1,69,136 persons constitute the priority group – people who had lost jobs, persons whose employment contract has not been renewed, those released from prison and awaiting deportation, pregnant women, children separated due to lockdown, persons whose visit visa has expired, students who have completed courses and whose visa has expired etc. As against this number, the Central Government has only approved the return of 80,000 Keralites.
The Chief Minister informed that he has written to the Prime Minister to bring back all the people in the priority group. The State Government has collected data through its official website and wants to share this with Central Government (MEA) and the concerned Embassies but no option for sharing this data has been provided yet.
“At the same time, it is quite unfortunate that internationally accepted health protocols are not being followed while arrangements are being made for bringing back our people from countries where the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been severe. People travelling in chartered aircraft should be screened for Covid-19 before boarding itself. Not doing so will result in people who are carriers of infection travelling along with others and spreading the infection to all. Kerala has systematically prepared for the return of Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) to the State but internationally accepted norms should be followed”, he added.
In the first five days, only 2,250 people are proposed to arrive at three International airports in Kerala at Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. The Kannur International Airport has been left out from the list. As per Norka registration, 69,179 persons have stated their arrival Airport as Kannur. The State has requested that Kannur International Airport may also be included in the list immediately. This would help people avoid unnecessary travel during the lockdown period.
The CM has assured that Kerala is fully prepared to receive the pravasies being evacuated and all arrangements are in place for testing and quarantining them. Everyone will be sent to quarantine centres for a minimum seven days and then tested. If they are negative, they will be sent home for a further seven days quarantine. Those positive will be shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Kochi port is being prepared to receive two ships from the Maldives and one from UAE. Arrangements are being made there in coordination with the Cochin Port Trust and Indian Navy.