Panjim: About 71,000 migrant workers have registered with the Goa Government to return back to their home states of Karnataka (18,000), UP (17,000),Bihar (11,000) and other states, while 3,000 Goans stranded in other states urged for being brought home and 800 Goan seafarers from 2 ships were likely to return soon, even as the state government allowed public movement with restriction from & pm to 7 am.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the state government is coordinating with the Railways to send them by special trains. Non-essential shops and establishments continued to remain closed with movement of vehicles and individuals being strictly prohibited, even as wholesale and retail liquor shops were permitted to open from 8 am to 6 pm, though the Government continued to ban paan shops and sale and consumption of gutkha in the state, he said.
He said public transport had commenced May 4 – though as per MHA guidelines with 50 percent capacity – while all government offices and their autonomous bodies along with private offices would continue to work within MHA guidelines. Restaurants, eateries and street food vendors would remain closed though food home delivery is permitted.
While Section 144 would remain in force, malls, gyms, swimming pools, sports complexes, casinos, multiplexes, night clubs, spa and massage parlours continue to be closed. People above 65 yrs of age or with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below 10 years have been asked to stay home except for essential requirements and health reasons.
Goans could enter Goa in personal vehicles at three time slots of 8am, 12 noon and 8 pm before going for free quarantine facility and homeward bound if found COVID-19 negative, Sawant said.
The migrant workers have been in the limelight after they were spotted walking in groups along the roads at night in different parts of Goa. On being questioned by people, many of them said they had been either asked to vacate their rooms by their landlords or chose to walk all the way back to their villages in their respective states.
The Government along with NGOs and volunteers groups had then sprung into action to house and feed them free while contemplating further measures. However, many migrants were eager to return to their states while the Government is trying to convince them to stay, Sawant added.
