Deepali Kalia-
A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah of the Supreme Court directed the States which have not yet implemented the ‘One Nation, One ration scheme’ to implement it by July 31st, 2021.
The Bench ordered the States to formulate a scheme to supply dry ration to migrant workers and also directed the Centre to develop, in consultation with National Informatics Centre, a web portal in order to register unorganized and migrant workers.
This all needs to be accomplished by July 31st, the Court ordered.
The particular order was passed in hearing of a suo moto case regarding the welfare of migrant workers in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
An urgent application was moved before the Apex Court by activist Jagdeep Chhokar.
Harsh Mander and Anjali Bhardwaj sought to ensure the welfare of the migrant and stranded labourers by making sure that they are given ration and food security and can journey back home at a minimal cost.
The application filed in 2020 had sought directions to the Centre that its Atma Nirbhar Bharat scheme which involved supplying dry rations be resumed and be extended to 8 crore migrant labourers not covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) or State Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) cards and who were recognized under the scheme last year.
Centre was also criticized by the Court for not adhering to its orders calling for the development of the National Database of Unorganized Workers.
“What is your project for the 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 asked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in response submitted that National Informatics Centre has taken the reins of the project and that the database should be read in 3 or 4 months. The Bench, however, stated that since it’s just a module, it should not be taking this much time.