Title: An exploratory research of India's COVID-19 outbreak: the hardship of inter-state migrants and the role of government planning amid the pandemic

Authors: Himanshu Bagdi; Griraj Shanker; Latika Sharma

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat – 395007, Gujarat, India ' Department of Food and Civil Supply, Hamirpur – 210301, Uttar Pradesh, India ' Department of Management Studies, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat – 395007, Gujarat, India

Abstract: This paper aims to research the hardships faced by migrant workers during their transition period of inter-state travel in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several nations were addressing the epidemic's social and economic effects, but India faced an unimaginable humanitarian disaster. Nearly 90% of India's workforce is informal, and millions commute considerable distances from rural to urban areas for work. This research elaborated on the phase of lockdown exclusively in 2020. The study is carried out using the existing literature from various secondary sources. This research explores public policy's shortcomings in tackling migrants and presents suggestions. In addition, the study reveals the precarious position of India's internal migrants regarding mobility, gender, and access to a range of government programs. It concludes by suggesting that the Centre and States revitalise labour policy to protect this sector during the pandemic and future epidemics.

Keywords: labour migrants; India; government; workers; centre; state; inter-state; policies; COVID-19.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2024.139643

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2024 Vol.11 No.3, pp.239 - 252

Received: 30 Jan 2023
Accepted: 28 Feb 2023
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

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