Vinod C Dixit
When coronavirus has broken the back of economic activity the world over and almost every country has large numbers of citizens employed abroad, students, tourists and families stuck across the world. Vande Bharat mission is the massive repatriation operation planned by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians in different parts of the world in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Vande Bharat Mission to bring back countrymen and women home was carried out in the directions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian government has announced plans to facilitate the return of Indians stranded abroad on “compelling grounds” in a phased manner. India has embarked on a massive operation involving naval ships and aircraft in a phased manner to bring back some of the hundreds of thousands of nationals stuck abroad due to coronavirus restrictions. Modi government’s massive evacuation plan for Indians stuck abroad has not involved just the Gulf countries but also the US and countries in Europe. This reveals the fact that Modi was at the forefront of the fight against coronavirus during the initial months of lockdown. His nudges were driving the Covid preparedness, action and mitigation strategies in the country to save people not only in India but also those who were struck in foreign countries. He stressed on the importance of humanity during such times. India rose to the occasion based on traditions and ideals of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,”
The “Vande Bharat” mission is the largest global evacuation mission in well over a 30 years, which is a massive repatriation operation by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians in different parts of the world in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis, has been seamless in its execution, notwithstanding the umpteen adversities due to a lockdown in most parts of the globe. Recently on a brief visit to Kerala, PM Modi said that India is proud of its diasporas in the Gulf region and also added that it was an honour to serve them in such a sensitive time.
In the first phase that started on May 7, more than 60 “non-scheduled, commercial” flights will operate from about 12 countries to bring back 15,000 citizens. The second phase of the Vande Bharat mission in the third week of May is expected to cover European nations. It is a very welcome decision that at this time of coronavirus pandemic when the regular passenger flights have been suspended, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has in Phase 9 of Vande Bharat Mission, nearly 1,495 international flights from 24 countries will repatriate 2.8 lakh passengers of which already 49,000 have returned. According to official data, more than a million Indians have been brought back home and more than 1,30,000 flown out on Air India’s Vande Bharat flights so far.
Modi’s Covid-19 evacuation would be the biggest ever, the most extensive and intensive ever and the most successful ever in contemporary history. There is no doubt that India has the ability to rise to the occasion and contribute to the global good.
