Supreme Court directions on welfare of Migrant workers

The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the states and union territories to take welfare measures for migrants in the country based on directions of Supreme court.

Highlights

The central government recently extended the lock down by demarcating the country into red, orange and green zones based on the intensity of the disease in the region. However, the migrants are to be kept in camps.

Earlier, the government had restricted the movement of migrant workers who intended to shift to their home towns.

Directions of Supreme Court

The apex court had directed to provide adequate medical facilities and arrangement for food, sanitation and clean drinking water. Also, the court directed that group leaders belonging to all faiths should visit camps to deal with the consternation faced by the migrants.

Migrant Workers

There are more than 9 million migrant workers in the country. They constitute to 30% of national population. The Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, 1979 aims to safeguard migrants in the country.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2020