NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of migrant workers' crisis

Taking suo motu cognizance of the migrant labourers' crisis amid the lockdown, NHRC has asked the Central government to issue a suitable advisory to all the States and UTs emphasizing that while implementing the lockdown guidelines, the public servants should behave in a sensible manner with the people, especially with the migrant labourers.

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the migrant labourers' crisis amid the nationwide lockdown.

The NHRC has asked the Central government to issue a suitable advisory to all the States and UTs emphasizing that while implementing the lockdown guidelines, the public servants should behave sensibly with the people, especially with the migrant labourers.

These directions have come after the Commission took cognizance of communication from one of its Special Monitors and human rights activist, Maja Daruwala.

It alleged that to effectively implement the lockdown guidelines, the police personnel, across the country, sometimes under tremendous pressure, tend to deal with the people, especially the poor labourers who are left with no choice but to stay on the roads amid the lockdown, in a very harsh manner.

In a letter to the central government, the commission said that the daily wage workers who are facing extreme difficulties due to shortage of food and other facilities for themselves and their families can be asked to stay off the streets but with some degree of compassion without being cruel and abusive using excessive force.