Section Article

Migrant Labour Crisis in India: Lessons from the Pandemic
Author(s): Amit

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered one of the most profound humanitarian crises in post-independence India—the mass exodus of internal migrant workers. As millions of labourers walked back to their villages due to the abrupt imposition of lockdowns the crisis exposed deep-rooted structural flaws in India’s labour system urban-rural divide and social protection mechanisms. This paper critically examines the socio-economic and policy dimensions of the migrant labour crisis during the pandemic. Drawing from empirical reports governmental data and socio-political analyses the paper explores the historical invisibilisation of migrant labourers the failures of urban governance and the systemic exclusion of this workforce from welfare programs. It also reflects on the emergent policy responses and identifies long-term lessons to ensure labour dignity portability of social security and inclusive urbanization in the post-pandemic era.