By John Dayal

New Delhi, March 27, 2020: Some immediate measures are needed to help informal workers and destitute poor to survive the 21-day lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 in India.

These have been developed in consultation with economists and social movements.

Enough measures are in place for the safe transport of migrants trying to return home, ideally via sanitized buses with safety protocols provided by state administration.

Double the Public Distribution System (PDS) ration for April, May and June and provide it free in advance through doorstep delivery along with cooking oil, pulses, salt, masala, and soap to be distributed in advance to all.

There is an urgent need to universalize access to food grains, pulses, cooking oil and soap, and provide them to everyone desirous of obtaining these, irrespective of whether they have a ration card or not. A lot of the poor, including the homeless and circular migrants in cities, have no cards.

This would be in keeping with the spirit of the directions of the Supreme Court issued in 2016 to mitigate starvation (judgment related to drought-affected areas dated May 16, 2016, in Writ Petition (C) No. 857 of 2015, Swaraj Abhiyan – (II) versus Union of India & Ors.).

To identify those not covered by cards, district officials should take the support of local civil society organizations, trade unions and others.

Abolish Aadhaar linkage and eliminate biometric identification at least for this period.

There should be free testing and treatment of all suspected/affected persons, even in private hospitals. These private hospitals should be commandeered for this purpose.

No hospital should turn any suspected/affected person away. Every hospital should be asked to prepare a minimum facility for treating/admitting all such cases.

Keep stadiums and other large facilities for converting into temporary hospitals as may be required.

There should be a helpline number for every 100,000 people that should be manned 24/7. It should tell people what to do and where to go if they suspect to have contracted the virus. At the moment even I do not know what I should do if I develop symptoms. The official helpline would be engaged 24/7.

The government should ensure a minimum of two cooked meals at conveniently located sites at a minimum density of 70 feeding centers open 12 hours a day (to include Aanganwadis, government schools, government colleges and community halls) per 100,000 people. One km road next to each feeding center needs to be cordoned off. Put an indelible white line at 10-meter intervals for the stretch of 1 km—one person to stand at every white line.

Home delivery of rations and other necessities are to be provided including medicines, as well as cooked food packets by volunteers who could be paid minimum wages for the period (as happening in Kerala).

Ensure advance payment of double pension for six months released in cash to be delivered to each pensioner immediately at her doorstep.

Provide full entitlements unconditionally, in advance, for all the eligible mothers under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Janani Suraksha Yojana.

Ensure immediate clearance of all pending liabilities of wages and materials under MGNREGA. Pay all registered MGNREGA workers (job-card holders) their full daily wages throughout the lockdown period, even though they are not allowed to work at the worksites due to the lockdown.

Emergency cash relief of 7,000 rupees per month for two months could be given as cash (without biometric authentication) to each poor household.

Minimum Wages for 25 days per month to be released into Jan Dhan accounts of all urban residents for the period of the lockdown and two months following the end of the lockdown.

Using school and other currently empty locations to house migrants, homeless and displaced people during lockdown (which is likely to be extended).

Decongestion of jails by ensuring the release of all undertrials and convicts charged with petty offenses. Decongest also detention centers and beggars home by allowing release for all those who seek it.

No closure of hostels, relief camps, and shelters. Provisioning of large spaces such as stadiums, army cantonment areas with adequate facilities for temporary stay for migrant workers, daily wage earners, others are in need of shelter. Under no circumstances should any private or public institution forcefully vacate people living therein for the period of the lockdown. Instead, they should support and facilitate their stay.

Supply of clean drinking water and free water tanks in all colonies (notified and non-notified) which do not have piped water supply, to allow people to regularly wash hands.

Police are to prescribe clear guidelines on safe passage for all government and non-government workers and service providers providing essential relief, and people seeking relief.

(John Dayal is a human rights activist, journalist and writer).