Complete mapping of markaz attendees on war footing: Govt

 In a frantic search of thousands of people who were participants of Tablighi Jamaat congregation here in Nizamuddin area, the government on Wednesday directed the states and Union Territories (UTs) and police chiefs to complete the contact tracing exercise on a "war footing" to check the COVID-19 spread.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba gave the direction to all the Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of all states and UTs.

The aim is not only to stop those who attended the congregation but also those they came into contact with inadvertently creating new clusters of novel coronavirus or COVID-19 infections across India.

Thousands of people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation and then dispersed, may carry the COVID-19 disease to states across the length and breadth of India.

Through the video-conferencing meeting, the states were sensitized about the intensive contact tracing of Tablighi Jamaat participants as this has "increased the risk of containment efforts" of COVID-19.

"The states were asked to complete the contact tracing process on a war footing," Home Ministry statement said.

Noting that foreigners who had participated in the Tablighi Jamaat had "violated" visa conditions, the Cabinet Secretary asked the states to initiate "action for violation of visa condition against the foreigners and the organizers of the event".

The Cabinet Secretary's instruction followed the information received by the Home Ministry on Tuesday that as many as 261 foreign nationals among 1,746 people were lodged at the Tablighi Jamaat's Nizamuddin Markaz facility as on March 21, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 'Janata curfew' across India.

Additionally, about 824 foreigners had been, as on March 21, doing Tabligh (Chilla) activities in various parts of the country.

The Cabinet Secretary also directed the states to implement the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana within the next week and for which he stressed on organised arrangements. "This (the scheme) will involve large cash transfer to beneficiaries. It should be organized in a staggered manner to ensure social distance," the statement said.

In the meeting, it was noted that the 21-day lockdown is being implemented effectively all over the country. It was also directed that the states ensure intra-state movement of goods and these should be allowed without any hindrance while maintaining social distance. "The manufacturing of essential goods should be ensured. It should also be ensured that the supply chains of such goods are maintained."

Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Punya Salila Srivastava said that the Cabinet Secretary directed the states to meet the needs of migrant workers shifted in thousands of camps and maintain their welfare, medical and sanitation facilities.

She also informed that the Cabinet Secretary instructed the states for a hassle free cargo and that it should be implemented on ground level. IANS