The problems which the world is facing due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus cannot be ignored. One is one of the developing countries where more than half of the population of the country are daily workers. These are those workers who do not have much savings. They are not prepared for the situation like this pandemic. But they are the major part of the country and it is the responsibility of the government to take care of them too. Many of these people are not in their hometown but are staying in temporary shelters due to the lockdown.
In regards to this, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the adoption of the “One Nation One Ration Card“ scheme in the face of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
The plea has been filed keeping in mind the needs of the migrant labourers and the poor. There are certain laws and regulations related to providing them with food on subsidised rates. Lawyer Reepak Kansal has urged the Court to direct the government to ensure that the rights of migrant labourers to get their entitlement of subsidized food-grains and benefit schemes are protected even if they are stuck in a state other than their home state.
The plea makes a case for the immediate implementation of the “One Nation One Ration Card” scheme that was to be launched by the Prime Minister in June 2020.
Kansal states that the Court should direct the government to have its departments adopt a One Nation One Umbrella Policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plea further states that a large number of potential beneficiaries of aid, who could not reach their respective home states during the lockdown, have been facing hunger.
The plea contends that the migrants’ labourers and daily wagers are not getting the benefits of government scheme including subsidized grains, food, shelter and medical treatments (except corona treatment). This is only because of the absence of local identity proof i.e Rashan card/residential proof/voter card etc even during the unprecedented nationwide lockdown due to epidemic of COVID19.
Thus, the petition asserts that the government should be directed to provide food and medical aid to the said persons.
In this regard, the petitioner has argued that the rights of such migrant labourers and the poor are protected under Article 21 of the Constitution.