Panaji: More than 6,000 Goans who were stuck abroad during lockdown due to COVID-19 had contacted the office of NRI Commissioner in Goa, the House was told on Thursday.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the State Legislative Assembly that 6,544 persons from abroad contacted through registration.
“Many others contacted on telephone. However, data of the same is not maintained,” he said.
The Chief Minister was responding to the Question tabled by Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai seeking to know the number of people from abroad (NRI, OCI, other Indian stuck in foreign countries) contacted NRI commissioner office during COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 till date).
Sawant said that most of them were expecting assistance relating to procedure to be followed for repatriation amid the travel restrictions imposed by the Government of India due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some expected the Government of Goa to arrange for charter flights for repatriation,” he said.
Sawant said that Office of the Commissioner for NRI Affairs facilitated by guiding the people on the procedure to be followed and updated them with regards to the guidelines which were issued by the Government of India/Goa due to COVID-19 Pandemic from time to time.
