Bhubaneswar: As over 5 lakh Odias, mostly migrant workers, staying outside the State set to return to their villages after the lockdown is lifted, the Sarpaches of 6798 Gram Panchyats of the State vowed on Wednesday not to allow them to enter the village without under going the 14 days quarantine period.
The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, administered the oath to the Sarpamches through video conferencing. He told them take steps to keep all those coming to their villages from other States in quarantine centres before entering the villages. He also told them to take of the people staying in quarantine centres. Provide them food, shelter and treatment at the expenses of the government.
Panchyati Raj minister Pratap Jena, chief secretary Asit Tripathy and 5T secretary VK Pandian also interacted with the Sarpanches.
The Panchyati Raj principal secretary DK Singh said over 5 lakh Ideas living outside are expected to return to their villages after the lockdown period is over. He urged the Sarpanches to make quarantine facilities looking at the expected figure.
Singh said the State government is going to host a portal on 24th April for people coming from other States of the country. He said each Panchayat will have a nodal officer besides a five-member team constituted by the BDO will supervise the quarantine work.
