New Delhi:A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court which seeks directions to the central government to ensure the immediate and safe evacuation of migrant workers to their hometowns and providing a sufficient number of trains and buses for that purpose.
The petitioner also prays for directions to the government to advertise and disseminate all the relevant information regarding the evacuation so that it reaches even the lowest strata of the society.
The PIL has been filed by a Mumbai-based advocate - Sagheer Ahmed Khan who contends that despite the various announcements of schemes, actions taken for the migrants the situation on the ground remains grim leading to a humanitarian crisis.
He alleges that the assurance given by the government to the apex court regarding the steps taken is not seen on the ground and is not enough to protect the migrants' "right to live with dignity".
"Had the state authorities acted on their assurances given to this Hon'ble court, there would have been no reason for the migrants to put their life at risk by adopting to travel on foot by private trucks in deplorable conditions," argues Khan.
He further contends that the "migrants more particularly are feeling insecure and helpless due to the circumstances beyond their control and have started walking through the highways on foot or by private trucks and mini trucks. Needless to say, that had the Respondents (government) taken appropriate steps to repatriate them, there was no reason for migrants to risk their lives in this scorching summer heat. It is in the public domain that various migrants have died while walking and Union Government and the state governments have failed and neglected to ensure their safety and security resulting in loss of lives like in the case of the Aurangabad Train accident."