Implement one-nation, one ration card scheme by July 31: SC to States
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all state governments to implement the 'one-nation, one ration card' scheme by July 31. The top court passed a slew of directions to the Centre and State governments for the benefit of the migrant workers.
The SC court order came on petitions by activists Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar, through advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeking directions to ensure that migrant workers are not deprived of ration and food security, and they should also be able to travel back to their homes at nominal cost.
A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has directed all state governments to implement a one-nation, one ration card scheme, which allows migrant workers to avail ration benefits from any part of the country, by July 31.
The apex court has also directed the Centre to develop a national portal in consultation with NIC to register unorganized and migrant workers by July 31.
The state governments are asked to frame schemes for the distribution of food grains to those who don't have ration cards and the Centre is asked to allocate food grains as per the demands of the state governments.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the top court has also directed the distribution of dry ration and community kitchen, providing succour to the needy people.
Acting on the suo motu case initiated by the top court last year to address the migrant labourer crisis during the national lockdown, the top court said, its main concern is that benefits which are meant for migrant workers must reach them and stressed the process of their registration is woefully slow. The top court also asked the Centre and state governments to expedite the registration of migrant workers and also those working in the unorganised sectors.
Earlier on June 11, the top court while reserving the judgment in the matter had asked the West Bengal government to immediately implement one nation one ration card scheme.