The Supreme Court has issued a big order for migrant laborers on Friday. The Supreme Court has asked all the states and union territories that they must implement the One Nation-One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme. The court said that by doing this the laborers would be able to get ration anywhere in the country apart from their states. Wherever they go to work.
The matter was taken up by the Supreme Court itself. The court had also sought answers from the states regarding the problems and poverty of the migrant laborers. Activists Anil Bhardwaj, Harsh Mander and Jagdeep Chokar have also filed new petitions in this case. A bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice MR Shah has reserved its decision.
The Supreme Court’s strict direction on Bengal’s argument, the
Center and the states also put forth their stand on it. The lawyers of Punjab and Maharashtra have told the court that we have implemented this scheme in our states. After this the lawyer of Bengal said that we have not been able to implement this scheme in our state yet regarding the seeding issue of Aadhaar.
The Center also said that states like Delhi, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Assam have not implemented this scheme. But, the lawyer appearing for Delhi said that we have implemented this scheme here.
The Supreme Court said that no excuse should be made on this. Bengal should implement this scheme because it is for the benefit of those laborers who will get ration in every state. All states must implement this scheme.
The
Supreme Court has so far expressed displeasure over the delay in making software for the registration of workers in the unorganized sectors. The court believes that with this a database will be created across the country.
The Supreme Court asked the Center – in such a situation, how will the Center provide free ration under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to those laborers who do not have ration cards till November?
You must have started the work of making software in August last year and still it has not been done? Why do you still need 3-4 months?
Prime Minister Questions and answers on Garib Kalyan Scheme
senior advocate on behalf of activist Dushyant Dave said that the prime benefit of poor welfare plan should be those workers, who do not have ration cards. The Center is trying to shift its responsibility on the states.
To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Center replied that the scheme has been extended till November and the number of migrants is being ascertained. So far 8 lakh metric tonnes of food grains have been given under this scheme. Yes, the method of distributing this ration has been left to the states.
