The Chairperson of the National Executive Committee in the exercise of his power under Section 10(2)XI) of the Disaster Management Act, 1995 and in continuation of the MHA Order No.40-3/2020- DM-I(A) dated 15th April 2020, 16th April 2020, 19th April 2020, 21* April 2020 and 24"h April 2020 issued an extended order No.40-3/2020-DM-I (A), revising the guidelines regulating the movement of persons in the country.
The said order laid out down a list of new rules for inclusion and strict implementation by Ministries /Departments of Government of India, State/Union Territory Governments and State /Union Territory Authorities:
Sub-clause (iv) under clause 17 on the Movement of persons in the original was amended to partially ease the movement of persons (such as migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students, and others) who are stranded at different places amid lockdown. With the new rules in place, they would be allowed to move as under:
- All States/ UTs should designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for receiving and sending such stranded persons. The nodal authorities shall also register the stranded persons within their States/ UTs.
- In case a group of stranded persons wishes to move between one State/ UT and another State/ UT, the sending and receiving States may consult each other and mutually agree to the movement by road.
- The moving person (s) would be screened and those found asymptomatic would be allowed to proceed.
- Buses shall be used for the transport of groups of persons. The buses will be sanitized and shall follow safe social distancing norms in seating.
- The States/ UTs falling on the transit route will allow the passage of such persons to the receiving State/UT.
- On arrival at their destination, such person(s) would be assessed by the local health authorities, and kept in-home quarantine, unless the assessment requires keeping the person(s) in institutional quarantine. They would be kept under watch with periodic health check-ups. For this purpose, such persons may be encouraged to use the Aarogya Setu app through which their health status can be monitored and tracked.
The guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) on Home Quarantine, dated 11.03.2020 can also be referred to in this regard, as available for perusal.
