Their Daily Needs Are Taken Care Of Says Govt In SC, But Migrant Workers Have Another Story To Tell
The plight of millions of migrant workers is one of the most talked-about topics in India after the lockdown was announced.The images of thousands of migrants, with their families and young children trying to rush back to their native places, were some of the most heart touchings once that surfaced in recent times.?
They took the desperate journey on the fear of an uncertain future, with no jobs and no income due to the lockdown.
However, the Centre has told the Supreme Court that migrant workers don't need to travel to their native places during the lockdown, as the government is taking care of their and their family members' daily needs wherever they are.
This came in a second status report filed by the government in the apex court in response to a plea by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, seeking relief for migrant workers including payment of wages.?
The status report filed by Union Home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that to obviate the difficulties faced by low wage-earners in the organized sector, cash transfer under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana has been made.The status report said the government has allowed such workers to withdraw EPFO money advance and as on April 9, 1,49,891 members have availed of the facility.?
In view of the steps taken by the government, it is submitted that there is no necessity for migration of workers to shift from places of their occupation to the place of their residence and rush back to their villages, Their daily needs are being taken care of wherever they are working and the daily needs of their family members were being taken care of at their respective villages, the status report filed on an affidavit said.?
As per the latest statistics furnished by the state governments and Union territories, 37,978 relief camps have already been set up by state governments and Union Territories and genuine NGOs. Nearly 14.3 lakh persons have been housed in these camps. In addition to the above, 26,225 food camps have also been opened giving food to nearly 1.34 crore persons, the affidavit said.?
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The Centre said that directions have been issued to district administration and superintendent of police to ensure migrant workers and other poor people who are living in rented accommodation are not compelled to pay rent by their landlords.?
However, for the migrant workers who have been stranded in big cities, they are living on mostly handouts by NGOs and individuals. Most of then are uncertain about their next meal.?
Congress leader of the house in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that food grains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana were not reaching the beneficiaries of the state, while holding that "hunger is not gender, religion or political affiliation specific."?
According to a recent study ‘21 Days and Counting: COVID-19 Lockdown, Migrant Workers, and the Inadequacy of Welfare Measures in India’, 72 per cent of the workers said that their ration would finish in two days. In Maharashtra, 71 per cent told the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN) that they had rations only for a day while 89 per cent had stocks for two days.?
