The district administration has clarified that passes for movement during the lockdown period are for emergencies and essential services only, after many complained that their applications had not been responded to.

The day the lockdown was announced, Ranchi sub-divisional officer (SDO) Lokesh Mishra had issued a circular regarding special passes. The email ID of Ranchi district transport department was given and applicants were asked to furnish details of the vehicle and the person for whom pass was sought,

“That was meant for persons involved in essential services like medical, medicine, media, government staff on duty, vehicle meant for essential services and the likes,” said a Ranchi district administration official. “All of a sudden people started applying for passes. Some wanted to travel outside the district and even outside Jharkhand. If we start issuing passes to all and sundry it will defeat the very purpose of the lockdown.”

Ranchi district transport officer Sanjeev Kumar admitted about the rush for passes.

“We had received 1,100 applications for passes till the district launched the app-based request service. These applications were forwarded to the department for concerned for scrutiny and genuine applications were approved,” Kumar said.

The app based e-pass service started from Sunday. Those who want to apply for pass will have to install an app called “Grid by Pragyam” on their smartphone. The passes are of three types: For within Ranchi (permission to be granted by the SDO), across the state (permission from district transport officer) and outside Jharkhand (permission from the ADM).

“I have received around 2,000 applications for Ranchi district,” SDO Mishra said. “If applications were rejected then there must have been valid reasons. We are even discouraging people seeking passes to distribute food among the needy. We ask them to give us food material and we will distribute.”

Ranchi resident Deepika Singh said her ailing father Virendra Kumar Singh was in Gaya district of Bihar when the lockdown was announced.

“Ultimately, my father somehow got the permission from Gaya district administration and he was dropped to Ranchi by ambulance,” she said.

SDO Mishra said that people facing medical problems can avail of ambulances.

“People can contribute by staying at home,” the SDO said. “People are facing inconvenience for the time being but it will save our lives in the long run. District administration is taking due care of people by ensuring essential services to them. We are also arranging basic facilities for people caught in other places.”