New Delhi: A PIL has been moved to the Supreme Court to bring back the Indian migrants stranded in Gulf countries.
The Indian migrants are living in vulnerable conditions in labour accommodations in the Gulf countries.
The petitioner, Pravasi legal cell, seeks to ensure financial support to the families of the labours who are rendered jobless due to COVID-19.
The petition also asked for free online consultation and counselling for the migrant workers and testing availability if they develop any symptoms.
The petitioner citing the ground for a prayer of bringing them back stated that, in wake of lockdown several Gulf states, they have been quarantined in labour accommodation camps which are notoriously overcrowded and lack basic facilities like water and sanitation.
A typical labour accommodation is housing hundreds and thousands of labours, packed 8-10 in one room against the social distancing.
It also said that the Gulf countries are denying treatment of coronavirus even after the migrants have tested positive due to the shortage of health care facilities and in such case they are prioritizing their own nationals over the migrants.
"It is also worrying fact that Qatar's largest labour camp for migrant workers has become a virtual prison and in total lockdown hundreds of construction workers are infected with COVID-19," read the petition.
In a similar plea where the prayer was to bring back Indian pilgrims from Iran's Qom city, the court had dismissed the plea expressing its satisfaction over the government's steps and not interfere when the government was already taking steps.
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