Migrant Workers at Crossroads-The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Migrant Experience in India

Abstract

The social and economic crisis induced by Covid-19 in low- and middle-income countries could be long, deep, and pervasive, especially when viewed through the lens of migrant workers. Migrant workers in India tend to live and work in megacities in crowded conditions that do not permit social distancing, putting them at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Migrant workers here face challenges accessing health care even in normal circumstances due to lack of health insurance, cost, administrative hurdles, lack of public health infrastructure, and lack of access to these facilities. The sudden lockdown due to Covid left lakhs of migrant workers in India stranded and on the road, having lost jobs and being left without income, food, and accommodation. Lakhs attempted to travel back home on foot only to be shuttled into shelters and relief camps hastily cobbled up as a last-minute response to the migrant crisis. This article analyzes the specific ways in which Indian migrant workers have been affected by the pandemic and examines the response of the government and its impact in mitigating and addressing the crisis. By doing so, it aims to provide insights for more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective migrant policies and operations involving multiple stakeholders at all levels.

Keywords: Covid-19; India; lockdown; mass migration; megacities; migrant crisis.