The Supreme Court of India has voiced significant frustration with delays by states and Union Territories (UTs) in distributing ration cards to migrant workers, issuing a stern warning for immediate compliance.
During a recent hearing, a bench consisting of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah underscored the urgency of the matter, providing the Centre, states, and UTs one final chance to execute orders by November 19. “We have lost our patience, we are making it very clear that there will be no more indulgence,” the bench stated. The justices also demanded that responsible secretaries remain present in court if their jurisdictions fail to comply by the deadline.
The case, initiated suo motu by the Supreme Court in 2020, addresses the hardships faced by migrant laborers during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly their access to essential food supplies through ration cards. This issue stems from the Court’s 2021 judgment, which included multiple directives aimed at safeguarding migrant workers’ welfare, including their registration under the ‘e-Shram’ portal and the provision of ration cards.
The ‘e-Shram’ portal, developed by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, serves as a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), intended to streamline the distribution of welfare benefits and social security measures.
In the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, mentioned that only one ration card per priority household is issued under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, a scheme aimed at the poorest sections of society.
Previously, the Supreme Court had criticized the central government for its “unpardonable” indifference in setting up the NDUW, which was mandated to commence by July 31, 2021, to ensure all migrant workers were registered and eligible for welfare benefits during the pandemic.
Moreover, the Court had directed states and UTs to devise schemes for providing free dry ration to migrant workers as long as the pandemic endured, with the Centre required to allocate additional foodgrains to support these measures.
