Activists welcome Supreme Court ruling on migrant workers

“It should result in universalisation of rations to all migrant workers during the pandemic”

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday should result in the universalisation of rations to all migrant workers across India as long as the pandemic continues, as opposed to the government’s one-time relief measures, said intervenors in the petition. Social activists Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar also welcomed the Supreme Court’s direction to the government to re-determine the number of people covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), given that the population has grown since the law was enacted. “It is significant that the SC has recognised that economic distress does not go away merely with the lifting of lockdowns...,” said the intervenors in a statement. “We welcome this important judgment and are happy to note that the plea to universalise rations to all migrant workers across India till the pandemic continues has been accepted.”