Bhubaneswar, March 3 The Odisha government has formed a dedicated working group to monitor the safety of people from the state stranded in conflict-affected West Asia, officials said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Monday, they said.
The chief secretary instructed all concerned departments to keep a close watch on the evolving situation and remain fully prepared to respond as required.
"In this context, the Odisha government has formed a working group in coordination with the Directorate of Odisha Parivar, the Home Department, the State Labour Directorate, and the Office of the Protector of Emigrants under the Ministry of External Affairs," a statement said.
Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, has been designated as the single point of contact to coordinate with the Odia diaspora.
DGP YB Khurania, who was present at the meeting, said that the situation is being closely monitored.
He also said that social media posts are being strictly monitored, and immediate action is being taken wherever necessary.
State Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said his department is also closely monitoring the situation around the clock.
"Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is in contact with MEA and the Union Home Ministry for the safe return of Odia persons stranded in the conflict zones," he told