SC directs Centre, State to provide dry ration to migrant workers

New Delhi: Most stranded migrants workers nowhere are found registered for availing either the Central or State government schemes. The slow pace in the registration process prompted the Supreme Court to direct the governments to take measures to speed up the registration of unorganised workers.

Innumerable migrant workers have been stranded throughout the country since the COVID lockdown came into the existence and who have been left without the provision of a meal. The apex court also wanted the migrants should be provided with dry rations and fed with meals prepared from community kitchens.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah directed both the Central and State governments to expedite the registration of unorganised migrant workers so that they could the benefits of different schemes of the Union government and states.

Going through the registration process, the court said that it was not happy with the speed it has been taking place.

The bench also directed all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to make operational community kitchens for stranded migrant workers and said that wide publicity with respect to various schemes, including the places of community kitchens, be given so that needy person may take the benefits.

On the issue regarding direct cash transfer to unorganised workers, the bench said it is a matter of policy and scheme framed by each state and UTs. It added that no such direction can be issued by the court for any category of a person unless they are covered by any scheme.

The apex court passed the order on an application filed by three activists who have sought directions to the Union government and states to ensure food security, cash transfers, transport facilities and other welfare measures for migrant workers who are facing distress due to the curbs clamped in several parts of the country amid the pandemic.