'Ensure Free Train Journey, Food, Water To All': Supreme Court Raps Centre, States Over Migrant Crisis

Supreme Court bench comprising Judge Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah said that there is doubt Centre and state governments have taken steps, but there are many deserving persons who could not avail the benefits meant for them.

Migrants wait inside a school at Aram Bagh area in New Delhi before boarding buses to their native places in UP. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed both Central and state governments to address the plight of lakhs of migrant workers who have been struggling to reach their native places amid the nationwide lockdown on the backdrop Coronavirus outbreak. A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan commenced hearing via video-conferencing on the migrant workers' crisis. After taking a suo motu cognisance on Tuesday over the plight of migrant workers stranded in various parts of the country, the top court today directed Centre that no fare for travel either by train or bus be charged from the migrant workers stranded across the country. As per reports, the SC bench also asked state governments to arrange free food, water and other necessary items to migrants stranded their states. "Those migrant workers found travelling on foot be immediately taken to shelters and provided food and all basic facilities," it directed. The apex court, which passed interim directions, said all migrant workers who are stranded at various places shall be provided food by concerned states and Union Territories (UTs) at places which shall be publicised and notified to them for the period they are waiting for their turn to board a train or a bus. The originating state shall provide meals and water at the station and during the journey while the Railways would provide the same to the migrant workers, the bench said. WATCH REPORT | SC Directs Govt To Not To Charge Migrants For Train Journeys "We are concerned with the difficulties of migrants trying to get to their native place. There are several lapses that we've noticed in the process of registration,transportation and provision of food and water to them," the top court said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who is representing the Central government told the Supreme Court that Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for over 80 per cent of migrants and informed the bench that around 91 lakh migrant workers have been transported to their home states in coordination with the state governments on board the Shramik Special trains and road transports between May 1-27. "This is an unprecedented crisis and we are taking unprecedented measures," Mehta told the top court. Responding to Centre's counsel, the bench asked if they (migrant workers) are  asked to pay for tickets at any stage. "The concern is how is the state government paying? Are the workers being asked to shell out money?" SC asked. ALSO WATCH | Help Not Reaching The Needy: SC To Govt On Migrants' Crisis The top court also queried that even if charged, whether these people are being reimbursed later? "Are they getting food as they wait for trains to be transported? They must get food," insisted the top court. As per news agency IANS, Mehta told top court that as many as 3.36 lakh migrant workers are being shifted to their native places on a daily basis and insisted that the government would not stop its efforts till the last migrant was sent back to his/her home state. The bench comprising Judge Bhushan, S.K. Kaul and M.R. Shah said that there is doubt Centre and state governments have taken steps, but there are many deserving persons who could not avail the benefits meant for them. The apex court also noted that in relief camps migrants may be getting food, but those in rented premises are suffering due to the lockdown. Next hearing in the matter will be taken up by Supreme Court on June 5. SC, had on Tuesday, said there have been inadequacies and lapses on part of both central and the state governments and sought response from Centre and state governments.