[COVID-19 Migrant Crisis] All states to provide dry ration to migrants; unorganised workers to be registered as early as possible: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has directed the Central government to expeditiously complete work on the National Database for unorganised workers being compiled by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the states..The order was passed by a two-judge bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah in an urgent application moved by activists Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar, seeking directions to ensure that migrant workers are not deprived of ration and food security and are able to travel back to their homes at nominal cost amid the COVID-19 pandemic..In today's order, the Court stated that there should be a Common National Database for all organised workers situated in different states."We are of the view that registration of unorganized workers should be completed as early as possible and there should be Common National Database for all organised workers situate in different States in the entire country and we are of the view that process which has been initiated by Ministry of Labour and Employment for creating a National Database for unorganised workers should be completed with collaboration and coordination of the States, which may serve registration for extending different schemes by the States and Centre," the order said. .The Court further directed that there be a suitable mechanism to monitor and supervise whether the benefits of welfare schemes reach the intended beneficiaries..The Supreme Court had earlier directed the States of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide dry ration, adequate transport and community kitchens for the benefit of migrant labourers in the National Capital Region.In today's order, the Court directed that migrant workers, wherever stranded throughout the country, should be provided dry ration under the Atma Nirbhar Scheme or any other suitable scheme.The States were directed to file affidavits indicating the mechanism by which dry ration will be distributed to those migrant workers who do not possess ration cards..This apart, the Bench stated that it is the responsibility of the States/ Union Territories to set up community kitchens for stranded migrant workers, who have lost their employment and are in need of two meals a day..With regard to cash transfer to labourers, the Court was informed that a few States have made schemes for direct cash transfer to construction workers ranging from Rs.1,000 to Rs. 6,000. However, no such direct transfer scheme is in place for other unorganised workers, the Court was told. However, the Court held that no direction can be issued for cash transfer since it is a matter of policy. "We are of the view that cash transfer is a matter of policy and scheme framed by each State/Union Territory and no direction for cash transfer can be issued by this Court to any category of person unless they are covered by any scheme formulated by the State/Union Territory," the order said. In their affidavits to be filed before the Court, States are required to include details on these cash transfer schemes..The matter will be heard next on June 11 or June 14. .The application on which the Court passed orders today was filed in the suo motu case initiated by the top court last year to deal with the crisis faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown..[Breaking] “Crisis of Migrant Labourers continuing till today”, Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance.The applicants 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..[Read order]