THE Central Government on Monday announced that it would be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner from May 7.."The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. The Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard", said the government..It added, "Indian Embassies and High Commissions are preparing a list of distressed Indian citizens. This facility would be made available on payment basis. Non-scheduled commercial flights would be arranged for air travel"..Passengers would be required to go through medical screening before taking the flight. It said only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel. During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the Health Protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation..Further, according to the government, on reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Arogya Setu app. After scrutiny, passengers would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned State government. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols..The information shared by the government also said that the Ministries of External Affairs and Civil Aviation would soon share detailed information about it through their websites..Centre has asked the State Governments are being advised to make arrangements, including for testing, quarantine and onward movement of the returning Indians in their respective States..Several petitions were filed in the apex court and in some High Court seeking the evacuation of stranded Indians abroad.
