People from Odisha stranded in other states to be put under 14-day quarantine after their return

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday said steps will be taken for the safe return of lakhs of Odias stranded across the country due to the nationwide lockdown after restrictions are withdrawn and 14-day quarantine will be mandatory for them.

Once the lockdown curbs are lifted, Odisha in coordination with the host state and the Centre will facilitate the return of all those who want to come back home, the chief minister said in a video message.

Making it clear that all those who want to return to the state will have to be placed under quarantine for 14 days after they reach Odisha, Patnaik said the government will have a technology-based system to facilitate their return.

The chief minister also announced that the state government has taken a "historic" decision for providing sarpanchs of gram panchayats with powers of district collectors for effective management of COVID-19 in a decentralised manner.

Necessary legal steps have been taken in this regard, Patnaik said.

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