Psycho-Socio-Economic Challenges of Internal Migrants of India: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Integrative Model of Care

Abstract

Background: India is a diverse country with a substantial number of migrants. The COVID-19 outbreak and enforced protocols led to enormous stress in the migrants. The challenges of internal migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in India have been unique because of the unique socio-politico-economic and cultural aspects. There are various levels of migrants’ pre-existing vulnerability factors ranging from socio-cultural impediments, economic barriers to lower social or legal support. This paper aims to narratively review articles related to the psychosocial and mental health challenges of India’s Internal Migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdowns.Methodology: A review was conducted by collecting articles related to challenges concerning the psychosocial and mental health of India’s Internal Migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We selected pieces, thematically organized them, and listed their significant findings under the head introduction, pre-existing vulnerability factors, and challenges of India’s internal migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic, responses, and recommendations.Results and Conclusion: India needs to develop an integrated ‘rights-based approach’ for providing comprehensive care to migrants, including economic support, health care and active labour-market policy. The necessary support to migrants can be done by planning a top-bottom approach involving National Health and Family Welfare Department (NHFWD), State Health and Family Welfare Department (SHRWD), local municipal and corporation councils, mobile medical units, mental health care workers, and municipal bocks and NGOs.