Covid-19: UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet distressed over plight of migrants

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 3

The plight of migrants in India after the sudden announcement of a nation-wide lockdown has caught the attention of the UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet who expressed “distress” but welcomed the subsequent measures to address their situation.

“The lockdown in India represents a massive logistical and implementation challenge given the population size and its density and we all hope the spread of the virus can be checked. It is nonetheless important to ensure that measures in response to the Covid are neither applied in a discriminatory manner nor exacerbate existing inequalities and vulnerabilities,’’ she said.

Following the announcement of the lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19, many impoverished migrants were left without work and unable to pay for their rent and food. Without the ability to sustain themselves in urban centres and in light of the almost complete shutdown of public transportation, hundreds of thousands of migrant men, women and children were forced to walk hundreds of kilometres trying to reach their villages and home States. Some died making the journey.

 On March 29, the Union Home Ministry asked states to intercept migrants on their way home and quarantine them for two weeks and the Supreme Court on March 31 asked governments to ensure that migrants are well provided for and that they are treated in a humane manner.

Noting these developments, Bachelet said the Supreme Court’s order and its implementation will go a long way to ensuring the safety and rights of the vulnerable migrants.

The government has taken a number of other measures to address the situation, such as ensuring the distribution of food services on a massive scale, pressing employers to pay wages and landlords to waive rents.

“In spite of all these significant efforts, more needs to be done as the human tragedy continues to unfold before our eyes. Special measures should also take into account the particular situation of migrant women, who are among those most economically vulnerable and impacted by the situation,’’ she suggested.

 “We understand the strains on police services at this time, but officers must show restraint and abide by international standards on the use of force and humane treatment in their efforts to respond to this pandemic,’’ she added.

The High Commissioner also expressed regret at measures that have the effect of stigmatising sections of society, including migrants, such as stamping the hands of those quarantined, reportedly to ensure that they stay home, and sticking notices outside the homes of people quarantined.