GUWAHATI: The Assam government is considering one-way movement of people within the state, particularly those stranded away from their home district, after April 20 if the Covid-19 situation does not deteriorate further in the state.
The state government is also preparing a roadmap to handle nearly five lakh people of the state stranded outside Assam who might want to return home after the lockdown is lifted and inter-state movement is allowed.
"Through phone calls by student volunteers to count the number of people either working or studying or those who had travelled to other states, we have estimated that their number would be about five lakh. If some of them choose to stay back after the lockdown is lifted, it is well and good. But if a large chunk of them wants to return home, it will be a mega challenge for us. We need to quarantine them and for that we would need a large quarantine facility," Sarma said.
He added, "We are thinking to allow one-time movement within Assam after April 20 if the situation becomes normal. But that movement will be one-time till the lockdown ends. It may happen on April 21, 22 or 23. That completely depends on the situation."
The minister said, "There are a lot of youths from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao stuck in Guwahati. If we can have a day movement within the state, they can go home but this is only a one-way movement, which means they cannot return until the lockdown is completely lifted."
With educational institutions closed in Assam due to the nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus, students in Assam have come forward to help the government. The health department has engaged 400 students from Cotton University, Gauhati University and Assam Engineering College and also took assisstance from Piramal Foundation to create a database of students, professionals, migrant workers, pilgrims and patients from the state who are struck in other states. These people will also get financial assistance to tide over the current crisis after verification.
The state government is also preparing a roadmap to handle nearly five lakh people of the state stranded outside Assam who might want to return home after the lockdown is lifted and inter-state movement is allowed.
"Through phone calls by student volunteers to count the number of people either working or studying or those who had travelled to other states, we have estimated that their number would be about five lakh. If some of them choose to stay back after the lockdown is lifted, it is well and good. But if a large chunk of them wants to return home, it will be a mega challenge for us. We need to quarantine them and for that we would need a large quarantine facility," Sarma said.
He added, "We are thinking to allow one-time movement within Assam after April 20 if the situation becomes normal. But that movement will be one-time till the lockdown ends. It may happen on April 21, 22 or 23. That completely depends on the situation."
The minister said, "There are a lot of youths from Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao stuck in Guwahati. If we can have a day movement within the state, they can go home but this is only a one-way movement, which means they cannot return until the lockdown is completely lifted."
With educational institutions closed in Assam due to the nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus, students in Assam have come forward to help the government. The health department has engaged 400 students from Cotton University, Gauhati University and Assam Engineering College and also took assisstance from Piramal Foundation to create a database of students, professionals, migrant workers, pilgrims and patients from the state who are struck in other states. These people will also get financial assistance to tide over the current crisis after verification.
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