Migrant Workers and COVID-19: Listening to the Unheard Voices of Invisible India

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.