Among all the malefic effects the Covid pandemic has agonised the country, the enormous hardships faced by migrant workers will stand out as distinctly disturbing. No further elaboration will be necessary since heaps of data including visuals of their plights have already caught national and world attention. Now that this exodus is almost nearing the end that what has assumed importance is the way forward in reinstating and reengaging them economically. With this the backdrop, Supreme Court on Tuesday has given a set of directions to the Centre and state governments which can be viewed as the first major step in the direction.

In continuation with its earlier observation last Friday, the apex court going a step ahead has issued direction that along with rounding off the process of transporting migrant workers who want to go back to their native places within 15 days, the Centre as well as state governments will have to formulate suitable employment schemes after conducting skill mapping for their economic rehabilitation. Additionally, all states will have to submit affidavits on schemes for them and their job creation by July 8 to the SC when the next hearing will be held. To make sure that not a single returnee worker is left unattended, the highest court has given specific instruction that their state-wise complete lists have to be prepared including details of the nature of jobs they have been engaged prior to the lockdown. The other major takeaways from Tuesday’s order are the direction to the Railways to provide additional special trains within 24 hours of requisition placed by states for taking back their ‘own people’ and withdrawal of all police complaints against migrant workers booked for violating lockdown norms.

It’s much heartening to observe that the highest court is leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the economic welfare aspects of these terribly distressed people, the total number arguably must be nothing less than 1 cr are not compromised. True, it’s only for earning daily bread and butter these people migrated to the lands they felt as ‘greener pastures’. But now, with the pandemic changing the contours almost 180 degrees when migration might not seem feasible, a great responsibility awaits the states to devise proper and long-term economic rehab plans. And after SC’s intervention, the obligation obviously becomes extended and time-bound.

It mustn’t be overlooked that this class of people, even with very little educational background are trusted human resources and have been faithful contributors to the GDP, whether acknowledged or not. For lessening their escalating distress, the solution most efficacious will be fast implementation of economic rehabilitation packages.

The ball is now in Central and State governments’ courts. It will be interesting to see how quickly the directives are given effect.