New Delhi: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is a lawyer by profession and practices in the Supreme Court, on Thursday gave a slew of suggestions to the top court to deal with the migrant crisis during the lockdown.
Citing various media reports, Singhvi emphasised that the benefits of the government's scheme is availed by only those who are registered, which is depriving many unregistered workers from availing benefits.
He said that there are more than 1.5 crore workers who are unregistered and are being denied the benefits of the government's scheme.
"This honourable court must direct the Government of India to relax all requirements vis-a-vis registration as pre condition for the dispersal of necessary benefits. To insist on administrative or bureaucratic formalities at a time of crisis is inhuman," wrote Singhvi.
For ensuring food allocation, Singhvi suggested the court to set up a special committee headed by a commissioner to oversee the allocation and submit a report on the hurdels faced so that it can be overcome by the government.
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With respect to health insurance under PM-JAY, which is reportedly not reaching the migrants, Singhvi asked for directions to submit details on families covered under the scheme or those awaiting to do so so, in order to identify shortfalls and ensuring that everyone is covered.
He added that the beneficiaries need to be made aware through information dissemination campaign through the office of District Collector.
Pointing out that the workers are now returning to the cities for work and industries are resuming their operations, Singhvi said that "the Government of India and the states have not even declared any scheme or plan for the migrant labourers".
He requested the court to pass directions to the government to address this "lacuna" on urgent basis.
The apex court today heard a suo moto case on the miseries and problems of migrants and directed the states to submit an affidavit regarding the steps taken by them to provide jobs, transportation, and food to the workers. The matter will be heard again on July 17.
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