All the people of the Himachal Pradesh stranded in various parts of the country willing to come back to the State would be medically examined and would have to stay under institutional quarantine before they could go to their native place, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Sunday.
Addressing the meeting of Nodal Officers appointed by the State Government to coordinate with other State Governments to facilitate movement of stranded Himachalis in different parts of the country and other stranded persons inside the State, Thakur said that the Government was concerned about the safety of the people of the State stranded in different parts of the country, but at the same time it was also committed for the safety of the people of the State.
The CM said the State Government has decided that all the people coming to the State from other parts of the country would be quarantined before allowing them to go home. He said that all the Himachalis coming from Punjab, Maharashtra and from other red zones of the country would be tested for COVID-19.
Thakur asked the nodal officers to ensure that they keep a close liaison with the nodal officers of the States assigned to them, so that the matter of bringing back the stranded Himachalis could be taken with the respective state governments at the earliest. He said that priority would be given to the students for bringing them back to the State as they were the most vulnerable section. He said that all the nodal officers should redress the query of the stranded person on priority.
The Chief Minister said that 52,763 people of the State stranded in different parts of the country have applied for the COVID e-Pass. He said that similarly about 63,044 people of different states of the country stranded in Himachal Pradesh want to leave the State for their native places.
Till date 30,219 people of other States have already left Himachal, he said, adding that it must be ensured that the people wishing to go back to other states should be provided all possible facilities to ensure their smooth return. He said that the workers must be persuaded to stay back as this would hamper the developmental projects in the State.
Thakur said that on the request of the State Government, the Union Government has agreed to run a special train from Thivim/Margao/Karamali(Goa) to Una to facilitate movement of the people of Himachal Pradesh stranded in Goa. Another special train would start from Bengaluru on 11th May to Una to facilitate movement of the people of Himachal Pradesh stranded in Bengaluru. He said that the State Government was also contemplating to urge the Union Government to start similar trains from Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar etc. to facilitate the people of Himachal Pradesh stranded there.
The CM said adequate arrangement would be made at the railway station, Una for ensuring proper social distancing, adding that proper arrangements of masks, sanitizers and food packages would be made there. He said that separate district wise counters would be established there to facilitate the people, adding that the State Government would also take necessary arrangements to bring back Himachalis stranded in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Kundu, FC-cum-Principal Secretary Revenue-DMC to Government of Himachal Pradesh Onkar Chand Sharma, Secretary Information and Public Relations and Urban Development Rajneesh, amongst other officials attended the meeting.
GOVT TO BEAR TREATMENT EXPENSES OF TWO-YEAR COVID-19 POSITIVE GIRL
Himachal Government has decided to bear all the expenses of the treatment of the two year old COVID-19 positive girl from Chamba, who also has a hole in her heart. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the girl hailing from district Chamba, is suffering from heart disease and has a hole in her heart, pointing that this aliment could only be treated through major heart surgery. Thakur said that keeping in view the economic condition of her family, the state government has decided to bear all the expenses of the treatment for her heart ailment within or outside the State. The CM said that it was the endeavour of the State Government to ensure that no one in the State was deprived of medical treatment for any serious illness due to shortage of money.
GOVERNOR ASKS DIRECTORS OF IIT MANDI AND IIM SIRMOUR SEEKING SUGGESTIONS FOR EXIT POLICY FOR REVIVAL OF ECONOMY
Himachal Governor Bandaru Dattatraya on Sunday had telephonic conversation with the heads of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sirmaur, to give their suggestions for an exit policy for the revival of State's economy and to support the vulnerable sections. He also requested them to send a concept note related to health, education, tourism etc. by May 17 so that the State could get it's benefit. The Governor during his conversation with Director, IIT Mandi Timothy A. Gonsalves and Director, IIM, Sirmaur, Dr. Neelu Mitra said things would change post COVID-19 and changes could already be seen in the functioning of businesses, institutions and governments, which was a paradigm shift. He said the economy was badly hit by this crisis and millions have lost their livelihoods. In order to sustain people it was important to revive economic activities, keeping the safety and health of the people into consideration. He said that both these renowned institutions could play a leading role in suggesting way forward to revive economic activities. Health, Education, Tourism, Industry, Handicrafts, etc, every sector needs to re-invent itself in post COVID world, he added.