NHRC issues notices to Central and State governments over poor treatment of community health workers
24 May 2021: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Centre and the states regarding “poor working conditions” of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers across India. It ordered them to submit reports detailing the remuneration paid and pending dues, health and safety measures, and social protection and insurance provided to ASHA workers and their families. NHRC had taken cognisance of a complaint that ASHA workers were not getting their dues and safety equipment despite being on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 across rural areas in the country.
Supreme Court slams governments for being slow in providing relief to stranded migrant workers
24 May 2021: The Supreme Court slammed the Union, states, and UT governments for being very slow in the registration of unorganised and migrant workers, preventing them from reaping the benefits of different central and state schemes. It directed the authorities to provide dry rations and make community kitchens operational for migrant workers stranded throughout the country, and directed states to detail the mechanisms it will use to provide dry rations to migrant workers without ration cards.
Supreme Court raps Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana over steps taken to ensure wellbeing of migrant workers during lockdown
13 May 2021: The Supreme Court ordered the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana to detail the steps taken by them to help migrant workers who had suffered a loss of employment and income due to lockdowns during the second surge of Covid-19. It ordered the states to provide cooked food or ration to migrant workers, and ensure affordable transport for those who wanted to go back to their respective states.
Tamil Nadu: High Court directs Puducherry government to pay 50 per cent balance amount to employees of closed govt textile mill
04 May 2021: The Madras High Court has directed the Puducherry government to pay 50 per cent of the balance amount to the employees of the closed govt-owned Swadeshee-Bharathee Textile Mills. This was an interim order in response to a petition by two unions seeking the quashing of the illegal closure notice issued by the management in September, 2020.
