PATNA: With reports of
migrant workers heading home from other states due to the renewed resurgence of Covid19 cases, residents in rural areas have started chalking out strategies to check the spread of the deadly virus.
Despite their busy schedule as panchayat polls are due to be held in the state, mukhiyas and other panchayat representatives have decided to persuade
family members of the returning migrants to ask them to remain in isolation for two weeks.
"We are alert and keeping a close surveillance on returning migrants to the villages from their workplace due to the fear of lockdown as Covid19 cases have suddenly surged," said
Poonam Devi, mukhiya of Chakanwa panchayat in Rohtas district.
Poonam had distributed ration, clothes and other household items among migrant workers after they returned during the nation-wide lockdown last year.
Prince Singh, the mukhiya of Raspur Patasia panchayat in Samastipur district, said, "So far no positive cases of Covid19 among migrant workers have come to our notice. But we are maintaining a strict vigil on them."
However, a panchayat head in Supaul said on the condition of anonymity that a spat took place between the family members of some migrant workers and panchayat functionaries when the latter asked the migrants to stay in an isolation centre as a precautionary measure.
Several residents of the
Araria district said that they have already issued instructions to the family members of migrant workers to take precautions to check the virus spread. "The lapses on their part will cost all residents of the village dearly," Mohan Kumar Sudhanshu, a panchayat functionary said.
In some villages in
Aurangabad district, the residents have earmarked school buildings, panchayat bhawans and places of worship for the stay of the returnee migrants. "We have taken a lesson from the past. The same mistakes won't be repeated," said Vimal Kumar Jitendra, a four-term mukhiya in the Samastipur district.
Chief minister
Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced to set up quarantine centres at the block level in the wake of the surging cases of Covid19 in the state. The CM also said even those who tested negative for coronavirus would have to stay in isolation centres as a precautionary measure.
Last year, the migrant workers had to walk hundreds of kilometres with children and other family members without food and water to reach home due to the lockdown. Several of them even lost their lives on their way to their home.
This time, the migrant workers are travelling in buses, trucks and trains to reach their native place in advance to avoid the trauma and agony they have to face due to lockdown in 2020. They are scared of being stuck in big cities and remaining without ant work.