Odisha SHRC Takes Cognizance Of 'The Hindu' Report On Difficulties Faced By Returnee Migrants

The Odisha Human Rights Commission took cognisance on the deplorable state of affairs of the migrant labourers who returned back to the state of Odhisa from different parts of the country amidst lock down period.

The Commission has sought a report from the Special Relief Commissioner on the issue. The matter will be next considered on July 6.

The steps were initiated based on a letter send to the Odhisa State Human Rights Commission based on a news report published in The Hindu dated 02.06.2020, with the title, "A rude welcome from Odisha's migrants as villages lack basic facilities".

The letter was sent to the State Human Rights Commission by Baglekar Akash Kumar a law student of University College of Law, Osamania University, Hyderabad.

The news report was about the pathetic living conditions and challenges faced by the migrant labourers who moved to the State of Odhisha during the Lock down phase in the absence of proper means of transportation.

It is stated in the petition that, the present situation of the migrant labourers cannot even equate with normal living conditions. They are seriously lacking proper facilities including food, shelter, clothing ,Medical facilities and other basic amenities.

In the petition, the observation made by the Supreme Court regarding 'Right to Life' in Francis Coralie Mullin v. Administrator, Union Territories of Delhi, (1981) 1 SCC 608 was highlighted.

The prayer of the petitioner is to :

• issue a direction to the state to identify all the poor people who returned to odhisa from other states after the lock down" and ;
• issue a direction to the state of Odisha "to provide proper shelter, food & other basic necessities for their dignified survival till the situation becomes normal or till they find suitable jobs for their survival, which is earlier.

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