THE government has stepped up measures to bring home thousands of Nepalis stranded abroad owing to multiple restrictions imposed to rein in the coronavirus. This initiative is in line with the popular sentiment that state must not leave its citizens out in the cold no matter wherever they are. Millions of Nepalis are in foreign countries for work, higher studies or to be with their kith and kin. This is the outcome of globalisation that has made the movements of people, capital and goods smooth and fast, turning the world into a global village. The interconnectivity and interdependence among the nations generated oodles of positive vibes but it has also created pitfalls that have got exposed in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. The countries across the world are now battling the virus while rescuing their citizens stuck in far-off nations.

Nepal government has been under mounting pressure to evacuate Nepalis, specially the migrant workers whose conditions have become precarious after losing their jobs. The issue became more intense and prickly when many foreign governments sent chartered flights to Nepal to get their citizens back home but the pleas of many Nepalis to return home remain still unaddressed. As the virus had caught the country unaware, Nepal government has been preoccupied in tackling the pandemic and now it has swung into action to salvage Nepalis left high and dry abroad on the priority basis. Last week the Cabinet meeting approved an ‘Order prepared to facilitate to bring the Nepali citizens home from abroad-2020,’ authorising the Nepal Army (NA) to manage Nepalis arriving from third countries and India. The government plans to airlift 25,000 Nepalis from foreign nations in the first phase. Their number will be in between 600,000 to 1.3 million, according to the news report of this daily.

As per the Order, three-tier governments and all security agencies will be involved in rescue and facilitation works. The NA will set up additional quarantines across the country and the Kathmandu Valley in 10 days. Apparently, it is the responsibility of the local bodies and administration offices to take case the people coming from India but now from onward the NA will handle them to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness in containing the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already held talks with its foreign counterparts as well as Nepali embassies abroad to identify, set priority and collect details of Nepali citizens to be rescued within 10 days. But Nepalis wishing to return home must produce health certificates showing negative results of corona test. They must stay at quarantines at least for two weeks before leaving for their home.

It is the government’s commendable decision to provide mobile SIM cards to the returnees free of cost to enable them to register their details, compulsorily fill up self-declaration forms of their health and download Hamro Swastha application to update their personal health status to the concerned health workers. Seven ministries have been assigned to coordinate with the state governments in connection to the management of the quarantines. The government can afford for those citizens unable to pay for food and fees of hotels converted into quarantine sites. There is also a separate provision for those who can foot the bill while staying at hotels as quarantines. These measures are expected to minimise the woes of Nepali returnees while flattening the infection curve at the same time.