A STRUCTURED RESPONSE IS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE VOICELESS AND THE MARGINALISED SECTIONS DURING COVID 19

6th May 2021

A Delhi HC bench was hearing a Writ petition seeking registration of migrants’ u/s 10 of the unorganized worker's social security Act, 2008 and free medical facilities to the migrants.

The petitioner sought directions to the Respondents to fulfil its responsibilities under The Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979. Counsel for the petitioner states that under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, various Central; State funds have been created and that the Respondents can use these funds to ensure the well-being of the migrant workers. He emphasized that the Respondents have failed to formulate any plan for the database of the migrant workers even after the first wave of the pandemic and therefore have been unable to succeed in bent all the workers.

Counsel for the Respondents that the State Government is taking various steps to ameliorate the condition of the migrant workers. Provisions for free shelter, Medicare have been made. He emphasised that Rs. 98,96,70,000/- have been disbursed to 2,10,684 workers under an order dated 20th April 2021 passed by the Chief Secretary under the Act.

DIRECTION

A structured response by the administration is required so that the voiceless and the marginalised sections of the society can be given proper and adequate relief. The present writ petition is treated as a representation to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, who is directed to frame a Scheme within two weeks.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal