SC directs states to strictly implement 'one nation, one ration card' scheme
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed all states to implement the" One Nation One Ration Card" scheme, which allows migrant workers to get ration at the place of their work in other states as well where their ration cards are not registered.
A vacation bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah also sought directions to the Centre and states to ensure food security, cash transfers, transport facilities and other welfare measures for the migrant workers on grounds that they are in dire need of help as the crisis are bigger this time.
The top court reserved its order on the case relating to problems faced by migrants during the lockdown and on the registration process of unorganised workers so that they can avail the welfare benefits given under various government schemes.
The bench also took strong note of the delay in the development of software meant to register workers of the unorganized sector to create a national database.
It also posed queries to the Centre as to how they benefit from free food grain till November this year under the ''Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna'' would reach the migrant labourers having no ration cards.
The bench further directed the Centre, the petitioner activists and the states to file written notes on the matter. The application was filed in the pending suo moto case of 2020 on the issue of problems faced by migrant workers due to curbs clamped in the country amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said that states like Delhi, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Assam have not implemented the "one nation, one ration card" (ONORC) scheme so far.
The counsel for Delhi, however, opposed the submission saying it has been implemented.
At the outset, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the activists, said the welfare schemes be must be extended to all those who do not have the ration cards as the problems this year is graver.