New Delhi
The Supreme Court has raised questions about the facilities being provided for free by the governments. The court asked that till when will the free Revadi be distributed? The court said that there is a need to create employment opportunities for the migrant laborers who have been receiving free ration since the Covid pandemic.
The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Manmohan expressed surprise when the Center told the court that 81 crore people are being given free or subsidized ration under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). On this, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, ‘This means that only the taxpayers are left.’
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing in a case filed by the NGO, said that those migrant laborers who are registered on the “e-Shramik” portal should get free ration. On this the bench said, ‘When will the freebies be given? Why don’t we work on employment opportunities, employment and capacity building for these migrant labourers?
Advocate Bhushan said that the court has from time to time directed all states and union territories to issue ration cards to migrant laborers so that they can avail the benefits of free ration provided by the Centre. He said that in the recent order it has been said that those who do not have ration cards but are registered on the “e-Shramik” portal, they will be given free ration by the Centre.
What did the court say…
Justice Surya Kant said, ‘This is a problem. As soon as we order the states to provide free ration to all migrant labourers, no one will be seen here. They will run away. States know that this is the responsibility of the Centre, that is why they can issue ration cards.
Bhushan said that if the 2021 census was conducted, the number of migrant laborers would have increased as the Center is currently dependent on the 2011 census data. On this, the bench said, “Let us not create differences between the Center and the states, because doing so will make the situation very difficult.”
