Endless plight of the migrant workers have been a raging topic all throughout the lockdown and the heart-wrenching scenes of them starving and dying on the way during their long walks towards home involving hundreds of kilometres are the ones the nation hasn’t seen before. It has invited heaps of strong reactions from all sections of Indian society and internationally too it has not been a good example for a nation which has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s third largest economy by 2025. With such the backdrop, Supreme Court’s observations and suggestions which came on Friday have given a new dimension to the issue. Although the final order is due on Tuesday next, from the proposals, one can have at a clear indication that both the Centre and the States will now have to brace up for discharging more proactive roles with a set of salutary measures for lessening the hardships of millions of these hapless people.

The apex court, which had taken a suo motu cognizance of the issue has made its intention clear that it wants to throw a 15-day deadline within which both the Centre and States will have to ensure smooth transportation of each and every such labourer to their respective native places. If this is the biggest point, the other equally welcoming aspects must be the proposal to the states to provide employment and other reliefs to these migrant returnees and their registration. It can be recalled that SC earlier on May 28 had directed that no fare should be charged from these beleaguered people for their journeys, states should share the fare expenses and Indian Railways must also provide meal and water.  

It is a matter of fact that interventions by the judiciary have been a repetitive feature in the country and it is only after highlighting the difficulties of the citizens via PILs and courts’ directions thereafter, the Executive has been compelled to do the needful, which otherwise are its usual duties as a sentinel of the people’s welfare. The current case where the woes of the migrants are conspicuously visible is one such addition. But, it remains a fact that millions of these men and women forming the unorganised sector have been the dedicated contributors to the Indian economy since independence particularly in the infrastructure build-up that has defined the ‘New India’.

The idea of direct cash transfer into the hands of these people who have become unemployed overnight after the lockdown are being repeatedly mooted by the most accomplished economists. It’s a long wait till now. But, at least, after SC’s intervention, a glimmer of hope seems to have arrived.  

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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