Team Herald
PANJIM: The State Executive Committee (SEC) has directed the Health Department to prepare itself for large-scale testing and home quarantine facilities in wake of the Centre approving movement of migrants and stranded people to Goa by special trains.
The SEC, headed by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai, said the task of handling the movement of the migrants is very delicate and a massive exercise. Therefore, the Nodal Officer is empowered to issue all necessary directions to meet the emergent need.
The SEC deliberated on the standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed for the inter-State movement of the persons stranded due to lockdown, after the start of special train services as per Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines issued for this purpose.
Principal Secretary, Science and Technology Puneet Goel, informed that he has asked the representatives of industries to collect and prioritise the information on the employees who need to come from outside Goa.
The SEC advised Secretary Health Nila Mohanan to develop a protocol for COVID-19 testing and home quarantine for the returnees, as their number would be large as compared to our current capacity. The need was felt for a testing protocol for those arriving by trains.
The meeting also discussed on the quarantine facilities. Secretary Health informed that the quarantine facilities should be identified in advance for everyone who is coming in with the proper authorisation, as was done for the crew of “Marella Discovery”, to avoid any last minute issues.
The SEC asked the Collectors in consultation with Secretary Health to put in place a mechanism to ensure the same.
Nodal Officer Kunal presented the revised SOP. The SEC agreed with the broad contours of the SOP and asked him to be prepared for the evolving dynamics based on the data received from the different sources including the online portal.
The SEC also advised Kunal to monitor the compilation of the data from different sources, to clean the data for removing the duplicate entries based on their mobile numbers or other identifiers.
Secretary Agriculture informed that the agricultural activities are normal. With 12 harvesters working in the fields, 82 per cent harvesting is complete. The department is also working on a mobile application to bring buyers and farmers on one platform: to enable better price discovery of agriculture produce for the farmer’s good.
Secretary, Fisheries informed that the department is collecting the data on the migrant workers in the fishing sector. As per the initial assessment of the department around 8,000 workers, mostly from Orissa and Jharkhand, have expressed their willingness to go back to their home State.
He also informed that Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) is readying a SOP for receiving seafarers. The SEC advised that MPT’s SOP needs to be aligned with MHA guidelines.
Secretary, Ports said, “The crew of ‘Angriya’ may not come at present, as informed by their company, as per their current engagement plan, even though the State is ready for their arrival.
Secretary, Ports discussed the issues of the barge owners associations, who want to return to Goa. The SEC advised him to work out a plan (SOP) keeping in mind the protocols for the testing and quarantine requirements.
The SEC asked the DMA and Secretary for Panchayat to frame the modalities on how to open the markets which are currently closed with all the safety norms in place, as the continued closure would adversely affect the shop owners and the State economy.
