Monsoon Session 2020: Centre Says No Data Available On Migrant Deaths & Job Losses During Lockdown, 'No Compensation Can Be Given'

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the much-awaited Monsoon Session of the Parliament began on Monday morning following strict COVID-19 preventive measures.

Amritsar: A migrant feeds his child before boarding a bus for Ludhiana to travel to their native places, during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Amritsar, Thursday, May 28, 2020. (PTI Photo)

The Government of India on the first day of the Monsoon Session answered several questions raised around the COVID-induced lockdown which forced lakhs of migrant workers to leave behind their jobs and move back to their hometown amid the pandemic. The government was asked for details about the situation of migrant workers, the number of people who lost lives as well as livelihood, and the financial assistance, if any, provided by the center to the families of the victims. There were questions raised in the Lok Sabha on whether the government was aware of the workers' plights and if the government failed to assess problems faced by migrant labourers during the lockdown. Responding to the queries, the government of India said that there are no data available on the number of migrant workers who lost their jobs or died during the 68-day nationwide lockdown restrictions imposed since March 25 to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment also said that the government has not maintained a state-wise break-up of free ration that was distributed to migrant workers during the nationwide-lockdown. The query also sought to know if any compensation was provided to the families of those who lost their lives while making their way to their native places after the announcement of the lockdown. As reported by Hindustan Times, the Centre to this query relied saying there was no such data available on the toll and so, the question of providing any compensation to the next of kin doesn't exist. The report quoted Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State with independent charge in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who said, "India, as a nation, has responded through the Central and state governments, local bodies, self-help groups (SHGs), Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), medical health professionals, sanitation workers as well as a large number of genuine and bonafide non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the nation’s fight against the unprecedented humanitarian crisis due to the outbreak of Covid –19 and country-wide lockdown, including in Tamil Nadu." Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the much-awaited Monsoon Session of the Parliament began on Monday morning following strict COVID-19 preventive measures. There will be 36 Parliamentary sittings, 18 each for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, in the Monsoon Session which will continue till October 1.