Kerala CM writes to PM over COVID free med certificates for Diaspora

Thiruvanathapuram:  The state government is to engage the Centre to decide on the mandatory medical certificate for returning expatriates, to get seats on charter flights.

The state passes the buck to centre after Malayalees in Gulf protested against the medical certificates for travelling charter flights arranged by Diaspora outfits.

The decision was met with protests from within the state too.

Chief Minster wrote to PM seeking to set up testing centres at Embassies as well as arranging special flights for ferrying in covid-19 patients.

He also sought the Centre to ensure the availability of test kits for Diaspora; in case of non-availability of kits, he asked the embassies be given reasonability for conducting free tests. 

The move could help the state safely get around the controversy by taking cover behind the centre’s decision.

It has broader possibility of blaming the centre if cases were to increase after the centre’s decision on Diaspora.

Talking to media, Minister KK Shailaja termed mandatory convid test only a suggestion, no final decision was yet taken.

Ferrying in patients on same flights with pregnant women and children could prove costly, the minister said.