Naveen, Uddhav talk for return of Odia migrants from Maharashtra

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday discussed with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on the safe return of Odia migrant workers.

Patnaik, in a video conferencing, has requested Thackeray to arrange for safe and disciplined return of Odia brothers and sisters working there.

The Odia workers in Maharastra will be brought back in a safe, secure and systematic manner to Odisha.

It was decided that the Chief Secretaries of both the states will discuss and finalise a plan of action and assign duties to senior officers for smooth coordination.

Bus will be the primary mode of transportation for the workers. In addition to this, other modes of transportation will also be explored.

Registration shall be compulsory for all the persons willing to return. After their return, they shall undergo quarantine for 14 days and will be provided other benefits.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined the discussion from Delhi and emphasised on registration of all Odia brothers and sisters before their return.

The Maharastra Chief Minister promised to waive all types of taxes on the buses carrying Odia workers. 

The Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will be requested for a similar waiver of road tax for the buses carrying Odia workers.