Give Food, Transport To Stranded Migrant Workers In Delhi NCR: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court bench ordered governments of three states to ensure that adequate transport is provided to stranded migrant labourers in NCR who want to return to their homes.

The Supreme Court on Thursday, issuing a number of directions relating to migrants workers stranded in Delhi-NCR due to COVID-19 lockdown, ordered Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh governments (for districts included in the NCR) to provide dry ration, open community kitchens and ensure proper transportation for those wanting to return to their home districts. A Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice MR Shah directed Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to open community kitchens at well-advertised places (in NCR) for stranded migrant labourers so that they and their family members can get two meals a day. It further directed the Centre, Delhi, UP, Haryana governments to provide dry ration to migrant workers in NCR region under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme or any other scheme utilising the Public Distribution System (PDS) from May. The top court ordered that while providing dry ration, the authorities will not insist on an identity card for those migrant labourers who do not possess it for the time being and it will be given to them on self-declaration.