Team Herald
Panjim: A day after over 120 migrants from Karnataka were sent back to Goa, authorities say technical issues from the neighbouring State resulted in the problem.
Deputy Collector and Sub Divisional Magistrate (Panjim) Vivek HP said the matter is being resolved soon after which the stranded migrants will proceed to their native State. “There were technical issues (on the part of Karnataka) which are being sorted out. Once the NOC is issued (by the Karnataka authorities), these migrants will be sent back to their home State,” he said while speaking to Herald.
The officer accompanied by a team of officials including a large police team had escorted the migrants to a shelter home at Campal, after the latter were denied entry into their State. Soon thereafter, they were ferried to the shelter home at Bicholim, where North Goa administration had housed them during the lockdown period before the incident that occurred on Wednesday.
Despite an unexpected turn on events, the authorities ensured the migrants were not left without food. A youth hostel at Miramar, which is already giving shelter and fulfilling all essential requirements of 60-odd stranded non-Goans, made quick arrangements for the additional lot.
Director of Youth Hostel Anant Joshi told Herald that they cooked food for the additional groups within an hour on being requested by the local authorities to prepare food. “I was suggested to prepare noodles for them but I rejected the idea for a simple reason that these people would have wanted meals. that will fill their stomach. It was a last minute call out of a situation, which was not expected by anyone. Without any delay, we began cooking rice and dal. The food was ready within an hour and it was served with pickle. Each one of them had full stomach dinner,” Joshi added.
The emergency situation was jointly handled by the district authorities, police and Joshi. Within one and half hour, the migrants were taken back to Bicholim shelter home.
Sources told Herald that while the migrants are happy with the service rendered by Goa government, their concern is about the clearance and permissions from the Karnataka government. “They are taken good care as every small need is addressed. They have no issues being sent back from the border but they just want to reach their hometown/home village,” a government official, closely monitoring the issue of migrants, told Herald.
It has been learnt that registration process on Seva Sindhu App suffered technical glitch and hence the communication couldn’t reach the bordering districts. Many among the 120-odd migrants hail from Bijapur and interior areas, which are apart from bordering districts of Belgaum and Karwar. “The rectification by concerns Collectors in Karnataka is underway. Authorities in Goa are connecting with its counterparts in Karnataka and soon, the migrants will be back to their home,” the official said. The Seva Sindhu App allows applicants to come by public transport or make own arrangements.
