Topping the list is the impending arrival of lakhs of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) stranded in various countries, including the Gulf region, because of covid-19. Over 2.5 lakh expatriates are reported to have registered themselves with the NORKA till date following the Central government’s green signal to bring them back.

The Air India and the four airports in the State are ready to receive the expatriates. As many as 18 aircraft of the AI are ready to take off once the Centre gives the go-ahead. Air India has, of course, experience in bringing back the expatriates from Beirut during the Lebanon crisis and from Amman during the Gulf war. It has also brought stranded Indians in Wuhan in China and from Italy in January this year. Indians stranded in various States have also been permitted to register themselves with the NORKA.

The cash-strapped Kerala Government has also requested the Centre to bear the airfare of the returnees, especially the poor, those with meagre incomes and those staying in the labour camps in Gulf countries.

A secretary-level committee has been formed to handle the stupendous job. Airport-specific committees headed by district collectors has also been put in place to supervise screening, testing, isolation and quarantine of the returnees.

In between, the State won a legal battle and lost another. The State Government heaved a big sigh of relief when the High Court, in an interim order, refused to cancel or stay the agreement the former had signed with US-based company, Sprinklr for uploading data of people under surveillance for covid-19.

Had the High Court stayed or cancelled the controversial agreement, it would have caused huge setback to the P:inarayi Government, which has otherwise earned national and international praise for the excellent manner in which it has combated the corona virus.

The Opposition, however, has claimed that the court verdict has vindicated their stand as many conditions have been imposed on the Government for going ahead with the Sprinklr deal. Sprinklr, for instance, cannot use the data for commercial purposes. The company should return the data on the expiry of the agreement. It has also been barred from using the Kerala Government’s logo or name for promotional activities. This being the reality, the Government has nothing to be happy about the interim order, crowed the opposition. The case will come up for hearing after three weeks, and the final verdict could still go in its favour, pointed out opposition leaders. The main allegations against the Government is that the agreement compromises on the confidentiality of the data of those under surveillance for covid-19 and that the company may misuse the data.

The Government, on the other hand, suffered a legal jolt when the High Court stayed, for two months, its order deducting one month’s salary of Government employees in five instalment s. The cash-strapped Government had pleaded that the step was part of its efforts to mobilise funds to combat covid-19.

The court, however, rejected the Government’s argument saying that the individuals’ rights cannot be questioned.

Latest reports have it that the Government has since brought an ordinance to overcome the court verdict. The Ordinance has been cleared by the State.. The Cabinet has cleared the ordinance and the governor has signed it. The Government has promised to return the deducted amount to the employees when its financial position improves. The controversy has left a trail of bitterness in its trail. Politicisation of the battle against corona by the opposition has not gone down well with the people at large.

The Government’s financial woes have, in the meantime, deepened with the Centre yet to release the funds due to the State. For example, the Central Government has not released the arrears under GST. If the Centre is not in a position to release the arrears, it should give compensation to the State, as provided in the law for the first five years of the GST rollout, contended Kerala’s Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. Also, the Centre must immediately clear the arrears of the State under the MNREGA programme as well. The Modi Government should also consider devolution of funds as per the 15th Financial Commission , Thomas added.

Another problem which is causing grave concern to the State is the sudden spike in fresh cases in the districts of Kottayam and Idukki which had earlier been included in the green zone in light of their excellent record in covid containment. Both the states have now been brought under the red zone. The sudden spike in cases is being attributed to the illegal arrival of covid patients from Tamil Nadu. Increase in the number of random testing also accounts for the rise in covid positive cases in the two districts. (IPA Service)