[Migrant Crisis] "Labour Ministry not alive to concerns of migrant workers:" Supreme Court orders implementation of One Nation, One Ration scheme

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that all States which have not implemented 'one nation one ration scheme' should do so by July 31, 2021 (In Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Workers). .A Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah ordered that States should bring a scheme to provide dry ration to migrant workers.The Court also noted with disapproval the fact that the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has not yet developed a national database of unorganised workers despite orders from the Court to that effect. "When the unorganized workers are waiting for registration and are waiting to reap the benefit of various welfare schemes of the States and Centre, the apathy and lackadaisical attitude by the Ministry of Labour and Employment is unpardonable. There was urgency in the portal to be finalized and implemented looking to the pandemic and dire need of unorganized workers to receive the benefit. The attitude of Ministry of Labour and Employment in not completing the module even though directed as early as on August 21, 2018 shows that Ministry is not alive to the concern of the migrant workers and the non-action of the Ministry is strongly disapproved," the Court said. It, therefore, directed the Central government to develop a web portal in consultation with National Informatics Centre to register unorganized and migrant workers. The same has to be done by July 31, 2021, the Court added. The order was passed in a suo motu case concerning welfare of migrant workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The following directions were passed by the Court:- All state governments to formulate schemes to provide dry rations to all migrant workers who do not possess ration cards till such time the COVID 19 pandemic is on. Central government to allocate grains to states for the schemes.- Community kitchens to be run by all states and continue till pandemic is on.- Central government to undertake exercise to re-determine the total coverage under National Food Security Act for giving ration cards. This will benefit large number of persons as more than 10 years have elapsed since the state-wise coverage was determined.- All states to implement one nation one ration scheme.- Centre and states to complete registration of all migrant workers and those in unorganised sector by December 2021.The judgment came after activists Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar moved an urgent application before the Supreme Court seeking directions to ensure the migrant and stranded labourers are not deprived of ration and food security and are able to travel back to their homes at nominal cost.During the hearings, the Court had questioned the Central government as to why the National Database of Unorganised Workers was not ready despite its orders calling for the preparation of the same..The Court had noted that about Rs. 417 crore had been disbursed for the making of the Database and expressed its displeasure at the snail's pace in which the work on the same was progressing."What is your project for National Database of Unorganised Workers? 417 crore has been released but not even a module is created. How much time will you take? Process has not even started," the court had asked..[COVID-19 Migrant Crisis case] Supreme Court reserves judgment, questions Centre on delay in making National Database for Unorganised Workers.The applicants had contended that even though States have been imposing decentralised COVID-19 curfews and lockdowns more cautiously this year, "they have offered little welfare support to working classes and migrants whose livelihoods are at sea once again.""This has triggered a second exodus of migrant workers who are flocking train and bus terminals in urban centres in a bid to get back home," the application stated..The application filed in the 2020 suo motu case sought directions to the Central government to resume its scheme of providing dry rations under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme to all 8 crore migrant labourers who are not covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or State PDS cards and were identified under the said scheme last year..[BREAKING] Supreme Court directs Delhi, UP, Haryana to provide dry ration, transport, community kitchens for migrant workers.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had submitted that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) has taken over the project and that it would take another three to four months to form the Database. In response, the Bench stated that it should take a shorter time since it is just a module, and that states need not be consulted at this stage..Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves urged the Bench to reject the "excuse" by Centre since "three years have passed and nothing has been done.""Please don't accept the excuse. Every state has made a state-level portal. That's why states are saying there are workers but they cant be linked to the Central government portal," stated Gonsalves.Gonsalves also relied on an October 2018 order of the top court, in which it was recorded that the Centre submitted that the portal was ready and that states can begin uploading their data..Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave had argued that the Atmanirbhar Scheme should be extended and that the PM Garib Kalyan Yojna be also extended to migrant workers who do not possess ration cards."Majority of these migrant workers are not ration card holders. In May 13 order, it was noted despite last order of the top court there was no data still. Thus, taking 8 crore figure as sacrosanct either extend the Atmanirbhar scheme now or PM Garib Kayan be made available to them," submitted Dave..[Read Judgment]