[1]As multiple countries across the globe try to grapple with the lockdown imposed due to coronavirus pandemic, migrants in Gulf States have been dealt with a harsh blow.
They have been lockdown in cramped, unsanitary dorms, without any income and unable to return home due to the travel precincts.
A large number of migrants in the Persian Gulf come from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. In Qatar, many of them are lock down in a crowded neighbourhood, raising it fears it will become a coronavirus hotbed.
Companies in Saudi Arabia have told foreign workers to stay home-then, the payment of them were at a halt as it was added further by the report.
Despite this lockdown to bring back their people living in Gulf states are the Indian citizens stranded due to this pandemic, to get them out of their and bring them home .
[2]A Congress MP from Kerala has approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Centre to establish a specialised team to identify Indian citizens who are stranded in Gulf countries and require immediate evacuation amid the coronavirus pandemic. M K Raghavan, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Kerala’s Kozhikode constituency, has said in his plea that the Centre should also be directed to facilitate the evacuation of Indian citizens who cannot afford to travel back from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
The congress MP M.K. Raghavan from Kerala has seeking to file a direct moved in the Supreme Court seeking directions for immediate evacuation/repatriation of Indian citizens stranded in Gulf countries.
The petition was filed in Public interest avers that the outbreak has caused widespread disruptions in the lives of Indian citizens at home and abroad, especially those stranded in Gulf countries.
It points out that Indians visiting Gulf Nations on work / tourist visas are now stuck there in the absence of basic amenities, particularly those pertaining to essential healthcare required as well as household needs.
[3]As the given petitioner, it details many Indians are stranded room with there who have tested positive for COVID-19 , while many other are inhabiting labour camp that are densely populated without any adequate ventilation, thereby rendering any kind of social distancing, nearly impossible.
[4]It was further averred that the pregnant woman with an infant by several pre-existing medical condition such as blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory disease and children are stranded there.
Thus, he has beseeched and urged the court to direct the respondents to establish, a specialized team to identify the Indian citizens stranded in GCC nation who required to be evacuated immediately, and take opposite steps accordingly.
[5]To cease this, he has proposed or appeal to the government for lifting the embargo or ban on International flights and grant of specific approval for these special flights as there are many among the stranded population, who are desiring of returning to India at their costs &expense, be it through commercial flight or through a chartered flight that may be arranged by some operations.
Inter alia, Raghvan has submitted that several airlines have expressed their willingness to ensure the safe return of Indians stranded in GCC nations alongside the assurance given by these gulf nations to support the operation of flights to India.
However, it is submitted that sue to the national lockdown and shutting down of the Indian airspace, all these efforts have preserved futile.
He proclaimed that:
“The fundamental rights of citizens, particularly those under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India stand severely jeopardised as a result of the travel embargo issue through a serious of travel advisories imposed on the return of citizens. An epidemic of this magnitude would impose a positive duty on the state as the parens 21 patriaeto ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens, including those residing outside the territorial borders of the nation’’.
In regards to the allusion made of section 36 of the disaster management act which obligates the central government to provide for evacuation, rescue, temporary, shelter or other immediate relief of its citizen for the purpose of responding promptly and effectively to any menacing and threatening disaster.
“Indians continue to be stranded despite several gracious offers being made by airline operates to assist their return form the GCC nations,’’.
Therefore, while praying for the evacuation and repatriation of stranded Indian citizens from GCC nations, the petitioner also makes recommendations for measures to be taken upon the return of such persons to ensure containment of the possible spread of the virus from these travellers.
IN MY OPINION
According to my view, the Indian government should be taking one step towards evacuating the Indian migrants and citizens’ stranded in the gulf countries, due to lockdown they have also lost the source of income, and cannot even afford or a possibility to travel come back.
The government should take Recommendations for action to be taken on the return of such persons to ensure the containment of the possible spread of the virus from such migrants come back from the Gulf States.
Article Written By-Sakshi Mehta
[1]https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kerala-mp-moves-sc-seeks-evacuation-of-indian-citizens-stranded-in-gulf-countries/articleshow/75096413.cms?
[2]https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/congress-mp-moves-sc-seeking-evacuation-of-indian-citizens-stranded-in-gulf-countries-amid-coronavirus-read-petition-155095
[3]https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/many-indians-stranded-in-gcc-nations-without-basic-amenities-kerala-mp-tells-sc/article31317615.ece
[5] https://www.deccanherald.com/national/kozhikode-mp-moves-sc-for-evacuation-of-indian-citizens-from-gulf-countries-824245.html
