Migrants Case- Intervenors Urge Supreme Court To Revise State-Wise Quota Of Ration Cards Under NFSA, Easing Norms For Obtaining Ration Card

While highlighting key issues related to the 'One Nation One Ration' scheme, three Activists have urged the Supreme Court to issue directions to the Union of India to revise the State-wise quota of ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as per 2021 population projections.

The requests have been made through a written submission made in the suo moto case for migrant workers before the Supreme Court, by three intervenors including Harsh Mander, Anjali Bhardwaj and Jagdeep Chhokar.

Further, directions have been sought to both Centre and the States to give priority to including migrant workers under NFSA by easing norms for obtaining a ration card through provision of self-declaration in case of people without necessary documents as also directed by Supreme Court for provision of dry ration on basis of self certification.

The applicants have also urged the Court to direct the Centre and States to ensure that no person is denied access to food on account of biometric failure or technological failure in e-POS machines by putting in place uniform, reliable and easy to access alternatives in case of such failures.

The applicants have sought directions to the States to ensure strict compliance of Supreme Court's order dated May 24, 2021 to provide dry rations to migrant workers and setting up of a Court- monitored mechanism to ensure compliance with directions.

According to them, dry rations should be provided to migrant workers for at least next 6 months and not be restricted to one or two months.

The applicants have sought directions to Union of India to put in place a specific scheme for providing dry rations free of cost to migrant workers. Further, directions have been sought to provide rations to all migrant workers identified under Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana in addition to providing opportunity to new or unregistered migrant workers to avail dry grains.

The intervenors have also urged the Court to direct Centre and the State Governments to jointly or severally ensure emergency cash transfers to all migrant workers identified under any scheme or law including, but not limited to those identified under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojna of 2020, under Street Vendors Act and Inter State Migrant Workmen Act. The transfers have been sought to compensate for the loss of livelihood and income, for the period that economic activity is adversely impacted by the pandemic

With respect to operationalising community kitchens to provide cooked food to migrant workers, the applicants have sought directions to States to open community kitchens in every block in rural areas and in every ward in urban areas to provide cooked food to migrant workers for at least the next 6 months.

Click Here To Download/Read Written Submission