A huge operation to bring back Indians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus outbreak will get underway on Thursday. 64 flights will repatriate close to 15,000 Indian nationals from 12 different countries in the week of repatriation process which is named as ¡°Vande Bharat Mission.¡±
The 12 countries where flights will operate in the first week of operation are United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, USA, UK, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.?
Aviation Minister H S Puri on Tuesday said that the fares are set lower than the cost of operating these special flights - which could be flying out only partially full or empty to bring back Indians who are stranded aboard.?
15 flights will be deployed to bring back residents of Kerala, 11 each for residents of Delhi-NCR and Tamil Nadu, 7 for Maharashtra and Telegana, 5 for Gujarat, 3 for J&K and Karnataka and one for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.?
While the exact number of Indian stranded abroad is not clear, the figures could be in lakhs. In the UAE alone, around 2 lakhs Indian have registered to travel back to India.?
Two of the special flights that will operate from Thursday to evacuate Indians stranded in the UAE due to the coronavirus crisis will start with applicants from Kerala who have formed the majority of the expatriates who have registered to be repatriated.
The priority list will include blue collar workers in distress, people who have medical emergencies, including the elderly and pregnant women, and of course, those who have lost jobs.
Stranded visit/tourists visa holders and those with cancelled visas would also be given priority, Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul was quoted saying by the report.?
The government on Thursday has issued a SOP - Standard operating protocol for the return of Indians stranded abroad as well as NRIs and others who got stuck in India and wish to travel to International destinations on an urgent basis.?
In an order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said priority will be given for return to India to compelling bases in distress this might include migrant workers, labourers who have been laid off and those who are facing the expiry of short term visas.?
People with medical emergencies, pregnant women, elderly those who are required to go to India due to death of a family member and students will also be given preference, the home ministry said.?
Based on the registrations received, the Ministry of External Affairs will prepare a flight or shop wise database for all such travellers, including details such as name, age, gender, mobile phone number, place of residence, place of final destination, information of RT-PCR test taken and its result.?
The data will be shared by MEA with the respective state and union territories in advance.?
MEA will display with at least two days notice the schedule of the incoming flight or ship on their online digital platform.?
The Home Ministry said as per the information available, many Indians who had travelled to different countries before the lockdown which was first imposed on March 25, for various purposes such as employment, studies, travel or business are stranded abroad.?
"Due to their prolonged stay abroad, they are facing distress and are desirous of returning to India urgently," Bhalla said while issuing the SOP.
According? to the SOP which is released, all Indian wishing to return to India will have to register themselves with Indian Missions in the country where they are stranded, along with the primary set of details as prescribed by the MEA.?
They will travel to India by a non-scheduled commercial flight which will be arranged by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and shops will be arranged by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).?
nly crew and staff who are tested COVID-19 negative will be allowed to operate these flights and ships.?
Before boarding the flight or ship, all travellers shall give an undertaking that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for a minimum of 14 days on arrival in India, at their own expense. All travellers will also be required to give an undertaking that they are making the journey at their own risk.?
At the time of boarding the flight or ship, the MEA will facilitate thermal screening as per health protocol.Only asymptomatic travellers would be allowed to board.
Passengers arriving through land borders will have to undergo the same protocol and only those who are asymptomatic will be enabled to cross the border into India.
This process would include wearing masks, maintaining? hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene to be observed by airline or ship staff, crew and all passengers.
On arrival, thermal screening, as per health protocol, would be carried out. All passengers shall be asked to download the 'ArogyaSetu' app on their mobile devices.