Marginalized, Daily Wage Workers Unable To Sustain Themselves In Pandemic- Gauhati HC Directs DLSA To Provide Immediate Relief

In a plea concerning the plight of marginalized and daily wage workers residing in District Nagaon who were unable to sustain themselves in view of the pandemic, the Gauhati High Court has directed Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Nagaon to provide immediate relief to such families in form of food and other daily needs.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak directed the the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Nagaln to deploy its Para Legal Volunteers in such areas.

"Let the Para Legal Volunteers conduct the survey and give a report thereafter to the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Nagaon." The Court said.

Furthermore, it directed thus:

"The Secretary thereafter shall apprise the Deputy Commissioner, Nagaon of its report, who shall then provide immediate relief to such families in form of food and other daily needs."

The development came in a PIL raising concerns regarding the marginalized and daily wage workers in District Nagaon, who were not able to sustain themselves in view of the pandemic. 

Moreover, it was stated that many of the children, who were getting mid day meal in the schools were also deprived from the same as the schools are presently not functional. 

The petitioner had surveyed forty-three villages of Nagaon district while making the aforesaid submissions.

In view of the averments made, the Court sought reply of the State Government within three weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on be July 23.

In a similar development, the Court had recently 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.

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.

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.

Title: HARUNAL RASHID v. STATE OF ASSAM

Click Here To Read Order