The supreme court on Thursday asked questions about the plight of migrant workers from the government. In response to the apex judiciary, the government said that it has sent 97 lakh migrant workers home since May 1. The central government said that it has taken “unprecedented steps” to meet this “unprecedented crisis”.
The central government was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who presented the facts to the court. The Supreme court said that workers who want to travel back to their home states should not be stopped. “When a migrant worker wishes to go to a state, no state can say that we will not take you“, said the judiciary.
The apex court bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has asked the government to set a timeframe for the return of migrants workers. In the meantime, the court has ordered the government to provide food and other facilities to them. 50 lakh migrants have been moved to their homes by Shramik Specials between May 1 and 27. Another 41 lakh workers were sent via road, said the government.
The horrific pictures migrant workers on foot and dying of lack of food in Shramik Special Train is a shocker. A naked reality exposing the arrangements for them. Both states and centers have made half-hearted attempts to end their miseries. The apex judiciary’s call might bring some relief.
