New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs today issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Indian Nationals stranded outside the country, as well as, for those persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons.
The development comes a day after the Centre announced that it will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded in foreign countries.
Under the Government’s latest plan to evacuate Indian Nationals stuck abroad, priority will be given to “compelling cases in distress”.
To recall, the international travel of passengers has been prohibited under MHA’s orders related to lockdown measures, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
MHA issues SOPs for movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country, as well as, for those persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel abroad for urgent reasons.#COVIDー19 #lockdown #Corona Update pic.twitter.com/CTg6ZNSHIO
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 5, 2020
Yesterday, MHA had announced that the Indian Government will initiate the process of bringing back Indians from May 7 in a phased manner.
According to the SOPs issued today, those wishing to return to India must register themselves with the Indian missions in the country where they are stuck. Such persons must also provide necessary details as prescribed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
“They will travel to India by non scheduled commercial flights to be arranged by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA); and, naval ships to be arranged by Department of Military Affairs (DMA). Only those crew and staff, who are tested COVID-19 negative, will be allowed, will be allowed to operate these flights/ships,” the SOP read.
“Priority will be given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers/labourers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with expiry of visas, persons with medical emergency/pregnant women/elderly, those required to return to India due to death of family member, and students,” the SOP further read.
The MHA has also cleared that the cost of travel will be borne by the travellers. Commercial flights and naval ships will be arranged for their return. “The cost of travel, as specified by MoCA/DMA will be borne by such travellers,” it said.
Based on the registrations received, MEA will prepare flights/ship wise database of all such travellers, including details such as name, age, gender, mobile phone number, place of residence, place of final destination, the order said.
The details of such persons will also include information on RT-PCR test taken and its results. This data will be shared by MEA with the respective States/UTs in advance.
MEA will designate State/UT wise nodal officers, who will coordinate with the nodal officers designated for this purpose by the respective States/UTs. the order read.
Apart from this MEA will display with at least two days notice, the schedule (day, place and time of arrival) of the incoming flight/ship, on their online digital platform.
All travellers will have to give an undertaking, before boarding, that they would undergo a mandatory institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days on arrival in India at their own cost, as per the SOP.
All travellers will also be required to give an undertaking that they are making the journey at their own risk.
At the time of boarding the flight/ship, the passengers will have to undergo thermal screening and only those who are asymptomatic would be allowed to travel.
The order further stated that passengers arriving through land borders will have to undergo same protocol and only asymptomatic persons will be enable to cross the border into India.
In addition to this, all passengers shall be asked to download Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
The passengers found to be symptomatic shall be immediately taken to medical facility, the order said.
“The remaining passengers shall be taken to suitable instiutional quarantine facilities, to be arranged by the respective States/UT Governments. These facilities may be as far as possible, in the district headquarters, of the district to which the arriving passengers belong,” the SOP read.
These passengers shall be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.
If they test negative after 14 days, they will be allowed to go home and will undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 more days as per protocol. The remaining persons will be shifted to the medical facility by the State/UT Government.
For the repatriation process, Air India will operate 64 flights from May 7 to May 13 to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals abroad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said today.
“64 @airindiain flights will operate in 1st week (7-13 May). 10 flights will operate from UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from USA, 5 from Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait & 2 from Oman,” he tweeted.
64 @airindiain flights will operate in 1st week (7-13 May). 10 flights will operate from UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from USA, 5 from Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait & 2 from Oman.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 5, 2020
The SOP regarding the movement of persons stranded in India who are desirous to travel stated: “Such persons will apply to Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) or to any agency designated by MoCA for this purpose along with details, including places of departure and arrival, as prescribed by MoCA.
