The Supreme Court Judgement delivered today in the case titled “Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers (Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 6 of 2020)” is a wake-up call and an eye opener for the unpardonable sins committed by the Modi Government, in ignoring the plight and miseries of the ‘nirmatas’ of urban India i.e. the migrant labourers and treating them as outsider- second class citizens, pushed to the margin to fend for themselves in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic.
SC Describes Modi Govt’s Handling of Migrant Crisis as “Unpardonable”
As the Supreme Court has delivered a stinging inditement of Modi Government describing the apathy lackadaisical attitude of Modi Govt. as “unpardonable”, time has come for the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to tender an unconditional apology to the architects of urban India, i.e the migrant labour. In para 75 of the judgement, the Supreme Court held as follows-:
“When the unorganized workers are waiting for registration and are waiting to reap the benefit of various welfare schemes of the States and Centre, the apathy and lackadaisical attitude by the Ministry of Labour and Employment is unpardonable.”
Simple question that arises is does the Minister for Labour and Employment, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar have right to continue as Minister even for a second more? Why should he not be sacked? Why should the responsibility of Minister for Disaster Management, Shri Amit Shah be now not affixed? Is he not equally responsible?
Undermining of National Food Security Act Exposed
What’s even more shocking to learn is that the Modi Government has deliberately sabotaged the National Food Security Act, 2013 – an epochal legislation brought by the Congress- UPA Government. In para 40 of its Judgement, the Supreme Court has pointed out as to how despite the passage of 10 years since the NSS Household Consumption Survey for 2011-2012, the Modi Government has been deliberately relying upon the same old data (of 2011-12) to determine the beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013. Para 40 of the Judgement is as follows:
“The State-wise coverage under National Food Security Act was determined by the then Planning Commission (now Niti Aayog) by using the NSS Household Consumption Survey data for 2011-2012. More than 10 years have elapsed from determination of State-wise coverage. In event, Central Government undertakes fresh determination of the State-wise coverage under National Food Security Act, number of beneficiaries State-wise are bound to increase benefitting the large number of eligible persons. We, thus, are of the view that Central Government need to take steps to undertake exercise under Section 9 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 to re-determine the total number of persons to be covered under Rural and Urban areas of the State, which shall be beneficial to large number of persons.”
While fresh NSS Household Consumption Survey is conducted every five years, however, in order to deprive the new beneficiaries (underprivileged sections) of the benefits of ration/ food items under the 2013 Act, the Government has willfully withheld the numbers of the 2017 NSS Household Consumption Survey and has not even bothered to take steps to conduct the 2021-22 NSS Consumption Survey. This is nothing short of a crime by the BJP Government with the sole intention to deny benefits to the needy at the time of Covid-19.
Hence, the Congress Party strongly demands, that the latest numbers of the NSS Household Consumption Survey, be put in the public domain within one week from today and the government shall inform the Public about the preparations of the new NSS Household Consumption Survey.
We Welcome Supreme Court’s Decision for Appropriate And Timely Allocation Of Food Grains To All States
While it should have been the solemn duty of the Central Government to ensure that appropriate and timely allocation of food grains be made to all states, we are happy that today the Supreme Court has given appropriate directions to the Centre, in order to ensure proper food security to our migrant brothers and sisters. We hope the Modi Govt will implement it in letter and spirit.