The COVID-19, Migration and Livelihood in India: Challenges and Policy Issues

Abstract

The worldwide spread of COVID-19 first reported from Wuhan in China is attributed to migration and mobility of people. In this article, we present how our understanding of migration and livelihood could be helpful in designing a mitigating strategy of the economic and social impact of COVID-19 in India. We conclude that there are many challenges migrants face during the spread of COVID-19 resulting from nation-wide lockdown. Many internal migrants faced problems such as lack of food, basic amenities, lack of health care, economic stress, lack of transportation facilities to return to their native places and lack of psychological support. On the other hand, COVID-19 has also brought into sharp focus the emigrants from India and the major migration corridors India shares with the world as well. There is huge uncertainty about how long this crisis will last. This article further provides some immediate measures and long term strategies to be adopted by the government such as improving public distribution system, strengthening the public health system, integration of migrants with development, decentralisation as a strategy to provide health services, and providing support to return migrants to reintegrate them, and also strengthen the database on migration and migrant households.

“We’ve got through hard times before” : acute mental distress and coping among disadvantaged groups during COVID-19 lockdown in North India - a qualitative study

“…This had immediate flow-on effects such as widespread food insecurity, massive loss of employment, vast movements of migrant labourers and significantly reduced access to essential health services with these impacts increasing over the ensuing weeks [ 7 , 8 ]. Around 40 million migrant workers lost employment and face significant food insecurity in the short or medium term [ 7 , 9 ] and at the time of writing (November 2020), nearly 9 million people in India had been infected by COVID-19, with over 130,000 associated deaths [ 10 ].…”

“…Types of mental distress that increased during the COVID-19 crisis include increased stress, anxiety and tension particularly among health personnel working with COVID infected patients [ 1 , 3 , 9 , 11 ]. Other groups at higher risk of worsening mental health include people with pre-existing mental health problems, and other disadvantaged groups including those who are poor, have less social support, are women and are experiencing violence [ 1 , 2 , 11 ].…”

A Culture-Centered Approach to Experiences of the Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown Among Internal Migrants in India

“…Not enough is known about the kinds of stressors returning migrant workers have experienced at hometowns and villages, with loss of income, the hazard of infection, and an uncertain future. The central government had announced limited financial support to migrants ( Mishra, 2020 ), systems for quarantine, testing and treatment, and food provisions packages ( Bhagat et al, 2020 ). But time constraints and the scale of the migration meant that these measures were planned in an emergency top–down manner, and implemented in haste ( Mohan, 2020 ).…”

“…Trains, buses, and workers with their families on foot got stranded at, or rerouted from state borders as lockdown restrictions set in across states ( Jebaraj, 2020 ). With food and water in short supply while workers travelled ( Bhagat et al, 2020 ), India’s coronavirus reverse migration killed at least 200 migrants over 2 months ( Banerji, 2020 ), and rapidly became what Biswas (2020) called a “human tragedy.”…”

Age Pattern of Premature Mortality under varying scenarios of COVID-19 Infection in India

“…The global recession following COVID-19 epidemic is projected to be worst ever in human history. In developing countries, the hard hit are the poor, migrant labour, small and petty shopkeeper; who have lost their livelihood (Bhagat et al 2020). Many adverse economic effects are yet to surface coming days.…”