Abstract
The internal migrant workers in India, despite being highly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health, have remained the backbone of the Indian economy. However, the recent lockdown situation created by pandemic has put them in a more precarious condition. On one hand, they have lost their jobs and earnings, while on the other, they did not have enough resources to survive at the place of migration. As a result, the nation witnessed mass exodus, where men, women, children were seen returning to their native places on foot. This article, through a critical review of interdisciplinary and ethnographic research, focuses on the status of migrant workers in India amidst lockdown and strategies that may help to mitigate the situation. This article also explores the future course of action that can improve migrant workers’ condition.
Highlights
The internal migrant workers in India, despite being highly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health, have remained the backbone of the Indian economy
The first case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in India was detected on 30 January 2020
Due to its contagious nature with no promising cure and limited health care facilities along with a large population, the only precaution that the Indian government could have taken for its containment was to implement a nation-wide lockdown
Summary
The internal migrant workers in India, despite being highly vulnerable in terms of physical and mental health, have remained the backbone of the Indian economy. This article discusses the condition of migrant workers during the lockdown, the strategies adopted by the Indian government to mitigate the situation, challenges that it is experiencing while implementing these strategies, and recommendations for a future course of action.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
