Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 2 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Kerala to induct present and former NSS and NCC cadets as Covid-19 volunteers.

Modi had held a video conference and interacted with various Chief Ministers in the country.

"He also asked us to include all non-governmental organisations as part of the district level crisis management groups. He also directed us to constitute a state level expert committee to work out the modalities on how should things be , when the lockdown is eventually lifted. He was very particular that once the lockdown is lifted, the policy of social distancing should continue. It was also directed that we should organise a truck pooling facility so as to transport agriculture produce to the point of sales," added Vijayan.

Vijayan also pointed out that a directive is given that all those who arrived in the state between March 5 to 24 either from outside the state or country to compulsorily go on 28 days' self isolation.

Vijayan said that he has raised with the PM the need for transporting of dead bodies of people who passed away due to ailments other than coronavirus from abroad.