7,500 Goans from India, abroad register to return

Team Herald

PANJIM: Around 3,000 Goans stranded abroad and 4,500 stranded in other parts of the country have registered with the State government to return to Goa.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, addressing the media, said that though there are no direct flights to Goa in the first phase of repatriation, Goans can come to nearest airport. “The 3,000 people wanting to come back from abroad can come to the nearest airport and then come to Goa by road,” he said.

Similarly, he said, around 4,500 people have registered to come back from other parts of the country. “Our Kadamba buses are going to most parts of the country to drop migrants and other stranded Indians and while returning they will pick up the registered Goans,” he said.

The Chief Minister, however, said that those who return will have to undergo tests and compulsory quarantine before going home. “Those coming back have to take all precautions. District of Davengere in Karnataka which was in Green Zone has suddenly seen 25 cases in one day, so we cannot take anything lightly,” the Chief Minister warned.

Asked about the repatriation of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), who have their families in Goa, Sawant replied, “MHA guidelines are not clear yet on OCI card holders, so cannot comment on that.”

The Chief Minister further expressed worry about the mass exodus of migrant workers. “We are convincing workers to stay back as situation has improved and construction activity has begun,” he said. He, however, lamented that the migrants were asked to leave some time ago and ill-treated by a few people.

Sawant also said that the SSC exams will be held from May 21 while HSSC from 20. “The exams are held as per approval,” he said.

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Goans from 65 nations register to return

NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar said that more than 4,000 Goans living in 65 countries have registered themselves on the State NRI Commission portal, to return to India.

“More than 4,000 Goans from around 65 countries, who desire to return back, have registered on Goa NRI portal. This information is shared with Union government. Urging for their expeditious repatriation,” Sawaikar tweeted on Wednesday. 

Most of the Goans who registered on the portal, are in the Middle-East, followed by those in the UK. The data has been shared with the Union Ministry of External Affairs, which has taken up the repatriation initiative.

Sawaikar has urged MEA for immediate repatriation of Goans stranded abroad.