“We have lost our patience”, the Supreme Court said while expressing concern over delay by the states and Union Territories in providing ration card to the migrant workers.
A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah granted a final opportunity to the Centre, states and Union Territories (UTs) to take necessary steps in this regard by November 19.
“We have lost our patience, we are making it very clear that there will be no more indulgence. We are giving you one last window to comply with our order or your secretary will remain present,” the Bench said. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said only one ration card is issued per priority household under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The top court was hearing a suo motu case registered in 2020 after taking cognisance of problems and miseries of migrant labourers during the Covid pandemic.
The apex court had earlier asked the Centre to file an affidavit giving details about the compliance of its 2021 judgement and subsequent directions on providing ration cards and other welfare measures to migrant workers. The top court had, in its June 29, 2021 judgement and subsequent orders, passed a slew of directions to the authorities, asking them to undertake welfare measures, including giving ration cards to all migrant workers, who were distressed during the pandemic, and registered with the ‘e-Shram’ portal.
The ‘e-Shram’ is the comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment with a primary aim to facilitate delivery of welfare benefits and social security measures to unorganised sector workers across the country.
In the 2021 judgement, the top court had termed as “unpardonable” the Centre’s “apathy and lackadaisical attitude” towards creating NDUW and ordered its commencement by July 31, 2021 so that all migrant workers are registered and welfare measures extended to them during Covid distress.
It had ordered the states and UTs to frame schemes for providing free dry ration to them till the pandemic lasts, and asked the Centre to allocate additional foodgrain.
2020 case
- The top court was hearing a suo motu case registered in 2020 after taking cognisance of problems and miseries of migrant labourers during the Covid pandemic
- It had in a 2021 judgement passed a slew of directions to the authorities, asking them to undertake welfare measures, including giving ration cards to all migrant workers who were distressed during the pandemic
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