COVID- "Identify Families Who Need Assistance In Form Of Food Grains, Other Materials In Slum Areas Due To COVID": Gauhati HC Directs DLSA

The Gauhati High Court has directed Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kamrup to identify Families wanting assistance in the form of food grains and other necessary supplies in slum areas due to covid.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak ordered thus:

"Let the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kamrup (Metro) shall deploy its Para Legal Volunteers to the slum areas and the areas where sections of marginalised families and other such families can be identified who needs assistance in form of food grains and other materials in this period of COVID-19 pandemic."

The Court also directed the Secretary, DLSA to inform the District Commissioner about such identification of families who shall then ensure that all the necessary items and food grains are given to them.

"The Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Kamrup (Metro) through its Para Legal Volunteers shall identify such families who needs help in the present Covid-19 pandemic and inform the Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), who shall after confirmation ensure that such families be given help immediately, in form of food and other day to day support promptly." The Court had said.

The development came in a plea raising concern that the daily wage workers residing in the Horizon Colonies in Kamrup district were not provided with food grains and other supplies in wake of the covid 19 pandemic.

Hearing the parties, the Court had granted two weeks time to the State for filing it's reply in the matter. The case will now be listed on July 13.

In a similar development, the same bench had earlier directed the District Legal Services Authority, Cachar to provide immediate ration to sex workers and their family members identified by Deputy Commissioner of the District.

The Court also directed the State Government to apprise the Court about how National AIDS Control Organization through Assam State AIDS Control Society will give relief to sex workers in Assam and how will they be identified for the same.

Title: SYEDA MEHZEBIN RAHMAN v. UNION OF INDIA AND 5 ORS.

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