On Friday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his government will cover the transportation costs for returning Odisha students and workers who have become stranded in Ukraine.
Around 1,000 students, mostly medical students, and workers from Odisha are currently in Ukraine.
Naveen also discussed the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone. Naveen requested that he arrange for the safe evacuation of Odia students and laborers from the war-torn country. According to a government statement, Shah assured the chief minister that the Centre is in contact with the Ukrainian government and working to bring back stranded Indian citizens from Ukraine as soon as possible.
P.K. Jena, the Odisha government’s development commissioner-cum-special relief commissioner, has been tasked with coordinating the overall issue of bringing back citizens from Odisha. In addition, Odisha’s Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, Ravi Kant, will work with the Government of India on this matter.
A special assistance cell has been established in the office of the Resident Commissioner at Odisha Bhawan in New Delhi to coordinate with the Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, and other central ministries to ensure the safe return of Odishans.
In this time of crisis, Naveen has also directed district administrations to gather information about students and workers in Ukraine and effectively coordinate with their family members. Previously, family members of many stranded students had petitioned the CM for his intervention in bringing them home.
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