SC directs implementation of 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme in all states, UTs by July 31

The Apex Court directed the Centre to start a national portal by July 31 for registration of migrant and unorganised workers so that they can be granted benefits of welfare schemes.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all states and Union Territories to implement the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme by July 31 so that migrant workers from any part of the country can access subsidised food. The Apex Court directed the Centre to start a national portal by July 31 for registration of migrant and unorganised workers so that they can be granted benefits of welfare schemes. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice MR Shah also directed states to operate community kitchens to make sure that no one went hungry during the Covid-19 pandemic and to introduce a scheme by July 31 to supply dry rations to migrant workers. On behalf of some activists, Advocate Prashant Bhushan sought directions from the Apex Court to the Centre and states to ensure food security and other welfare measures for migrant workers who were left stranded in different parts of the country amid lockdowns during the deadly second wave of the pandemic. It also asked the Centre to allocate additional food grains to the states, UTs for distribution among migrant workers for free till the pandemic situation exists. According to The Hindu, Mr Bhushan had said that neither the central government nor the states had provided dry rations to stranded migrant workers under the Atma Nirbhar Scheme across the country and community kitchens in the national capital that provided cooked food had reduced this year.