Government’s stand was to provide one-time relief measures
The acceptance of demand by a section of social activists by the Supreme Court of India has put a new challenge in front of the Union and State governments to arrange rations to all migrant workers during the pandemic.
The activists for long were fighting for food guarantee to the migrant workers until the pandemic continues.
As opposed to the government’s one-time relief measures, the Supreme Court called for universalisation of rations to all migrant workers across India.
The apex court’s ruling means universalisation of rations to all migrant workers across India as long as the pandemic continues.
The apex court’s ruling means universalisation of rations to all migrant workers across India as long as the pandemic continues.
As per the ruling, the court has asked the government to distribute dry ration and run community kitchens for migrant workers.
One the one hand the court has asked the State government to run community kitchens for migrant workers, it has asked the Centre to arrange the needed grains to implement this.
The court has also given a specific directive to the Union Government “undertake exercise under Section 9 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 to re-determine the total number of persons to be covered under Rural and Urban areas of the State, which shall be beneficial to a large number of persons.”