In Brief
The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu petition on migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, held that the right to life includes access to food and basic necessities. Migrant workers—over one-quarter of India's unorganized workforce—deserve special government protection. The Court directed the Central Government to allocate food grains to States for dry ration schemes, directed all States to implement the One Nation One Ration Card scheme by July 31, 2021, and mandated completion of a National Database for Unorganized Workers registration by December 31, 2021. States must register establishments under migrant worker legislation, run community kitchens during the pandemic, and ensure welfare scheme benefits actually reach beneficiaries. The judgment criticizes government apathy and demands strict compliance with welfare legislation.
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