View source for Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian migrant workers

{{Short description|Impact of COVID-19 on Indian migrants}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{main|COVID-19 pandemic in India}}
{{Infobox event
 |title=Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
 |image=Stranded migrant workers during fourth phase of the lockdown IMG 20200523 125500.jpg
 |caption=Stranded migrant workers during fourth phase of the lockdown near [[Paharganj]]
 |cause=[[COVID-19 pandemic]]-induced lockdown
 |date=28 March 2020 onwards
 |outcome=
* Sharp rise in unemployment
* Starvation
* Exodus to hometowns and villages
* Shramik Special trains
}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic sidebar|expanded=Impacts}}

'''Indian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic''' faced multiple hardships. With factories and workplaces shut down due to the [[COVID-19 lockdown in India|lockdown imposed in the country]], millions of migrant workers had to deal with the loss of income, food shortages and uncertainty about their future.<ref>{{Cite news|title=In India, the world's biggest lockdown has forced migrants to walk hundreds of miles home|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/india-coronavirus-lockdown-migrant-workers/2020/03/27/a62df166-6f7d-11ea-a156-0048b62cdb51_story.html|last1=Slater|first1=Joanna|last2=Masih|first2=Niha|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=28 March 2020|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus outbreak: Ensuring water, hygiene facilities for migrant labourers can safeguard millions stranded during shutdown|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-ensuring-water-hygiene-facilities-for-migrant-labourers-can-safeguard-millions-stranded-during-shutdown-8228331.html|first1=Kanika|last1=Singh|date=6 April 2020|website=Firstpost|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Following this, many of them and their families went hungry.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Abi-Habib|first1=Maria|last2=Yasir|first2=Sameer|date=29 March 2020|title=India's Coronavirus Lockdown Leaves Vast Numbers Stranded and Hungry|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/world/asia/coronavirus-india-migrants.html|access-date=13 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Thousands of them then began walking back home, with no means of transport due to the lockdown.<ref name="HinduUncertainty4Apr">{{Cite news|last1=Rashid|first1=Omar|last2=Anand|first2=Jatin|last3=Mahale|first3=Ajeet|date=4 April 2020|title=India coronavirus lockdown {{!}} Migrant workers and their long march to uncertainty|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-coronavirus-lockdown-migrant-workers-and-their-long-march-to-uncertainty/article31251952.ece|access-date=18 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> A study found that 43.3 million interstate migrants returned to their home during the first wave of COVID-19 led lockdowns and out of 43.3 million around 35 million walked home or used unusual means of transportation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nizam |first1=Arif |last2=Sivakumar |first2=P. |last3=Rajan |first3=S. Irudaya |year=2022 |orig-date=25/09/2022 |title=Interstate Migration in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis Based on Mobile Visitor Location Register and Roaming Data |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09731741221122000 |journal=Journal of South Asian Development |language=en |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=271–296 |doi=10.1177/09731741221122000 |s2cid=252536877 |issn=0973-1741|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In response, the [[Government of India|Central]] and [[State governments of India|State Governments]] took various measures to help them,<ref name="21000camps">{{Cite news|date=1 April 2020|title=More than 21,000 camps set up for over 6,60,000 migrants: State governments|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/more-than-21000-camps-set-up-for-over-660000-migrants-state-governments/articleshow/74920798.cms|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=15 May 2020|title=Coronavirus lockdown {{!}} Over 60,000 people have registered on Delhi govt portal to go back home|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/over-60000-people-have-registered-on-delhi-govt-portal-to-go-back-home/article31586991.ece|access-date=18 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="NYTFreeFood14May">{{Cite news|agency=Reuters|date=14 May 2020|title=India to Provide Free Food Grains to Millions of Migrant Workers|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/05/14/world/asia/14reuters-health-coronavirus-india-stimulus.html|access-date=16 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and later arranged transport for them.<ref name="NDTVBuses30Apr">{{Cite web|title=Buses Not Feasible For Moving Migrants, States Appeal To Centre: Sources|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/buses-not-feasible-for-moving-migrants-states-appeal-to-centre-sources-2221212|publisher=NDTV|first1=Arvind |last1=Gunasekar|date=30 April 2020|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="HinduShramikSpecial1May">{{Cite news|last1=Bhargava|first1=Yuthika|date=1 May 2020|title=Coronavirus lockdown {{!}} Railways to run 'Shramik Special' trains to move migrant workers, other stranded persons|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/railways-to-run-shramik-special-trains-to-move-migrant-workers-other-stranded-persons/article31481996.ece|access-date=9 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 198 migrant workers died due to the lockdown, with reasons of road accidents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migration worker death|date=2 June 2020 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/198-migrant-workers-killed-in-road-accidents-during-lockdown-report/story-hTWzAWMYn0kyycKw1dyKqL.html}}</ref>

==Background==
There are an estimated 139 million migrants in the country, according to the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=India has 139 million internal migrants. They must not be forgotten|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/10/india-has-139-million-internal-migrants-we-must-not-forget-them/|website=World Economic Forum|date=1 October 2017|first=Krishnavatar|last=Sharma|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> The [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO) predicted that due to the pandemic and the lockdown, about 400 million workers would be poverty-stricken.<ref name="QuintFramework19May" /> Most migrants in the country originate from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The cities of Mumbai and Delhi attract the highest number of migrants in India. While most men migrate for work, women migrate due to marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What the 2011 census data on migration tells us|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/migration-from-up-bihar-disproportionately-high/story-K3WAio8TrrvBhd22VbAPLN.html|first1=Abhishek |last1=Jha |first2=Vijdan |last2=Mohammad Kawoosa|date=24 July 2019|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>

Migrant workers consist majorly of daily-wage labourers working in the manufacturing and construction industries. They are often denied adequate healthcare, nutrition, housing and sanitation,<ref name="QuintFramework19May">{{Cite web|title=A Policy Framework For India's Covid-19 Migration|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/coronavirus-outbreak/a-policy-framework-for-indias-covid-19-migration|last1=Nair|first1=Shabarinath|last2=Verma|first2=Divya|date=19 May 2020|website=BloombergQuint|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> since many of them work in the informal sector.<ref name="NatGeoDogs27May">{{Cite web|title='They treat us like stray dogs': Migrant workers flee India's cities|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/05/they-treat-us-like-stray-dogs-migrant-workers-flee-india-cities/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528012733/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/05/they-treat-us-like-stray-dogs-migrant-workers-flee-india-cities/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 May 2020|date=27 May 2020|first=Nilanjana|last=Bhowmick|others=Khandelwal, Saumya|website=National Geographic|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref> They mostly hail from rural areas but live in cities due to work for most of the year. Many have no savings and stayed in factory dormitories, which were shut due to the lockdown.<ref name="NPRRisky31Mar">{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus Lockdown Sends Migrant Workers on a Long And Risky Trip Home|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/31/822642382/coronavirus-lockdown-sends-migrant-workers-on-a-long-and-risky-trip-home|last1=Frayer|first1=Lauren|last2=Pathak|first2=Sushmita|date=31 March 2020|publisher=NPR|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> Additionally, there was no central registry of migrant workers, despite the existence of the [[Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Srivastava|first1=Roli|last2=Nagaraj|first2=Anuradha|date=29 April 2020|title=As migrant workers struggle for lockdown aid, India seeks to count them|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-migrants-fea-idUSKCN22B005|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

According to research published in the ''Royal Geographical Society'', the workers who have been treated the worst are from areas like [[Odisha]], Jharkhand and [[Chhattisgarh]], in which the indigenous population's natural resources were extracted by outsiders. Further, workers paid the least for the hardest work belong to the backward classes, mainly from the [[Dalit]] and the [[Adivasi]] communities. The research also indicated that the families of the migrant workers supported them by maintaining their houses and taking care of them, either when seasonal work is unavailable or when they are no longer able to work.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Shah|first1=Alpa|last2=Lerche|first2=Jens|date=13 July 2020|title=The five truths about the migrant workers' crisis {{!}} Opinion|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/the-five-truths-about-the-migrant-workers-crisis-opinion/story-awTQUm2gnJx72UWbdPa5OM.html|access-date=15 July 2020|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

Maharashtra has the largest number of migrants, according to the [[2011 Census of India]]. Its state government imposed a lockdown on 20 March 2020 in [[Pune]], [[Pimpri-Chinchwad]], the [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]] and [[Nagpur]], leaving the migrant workers with no work. Due to the lockdown, thousands then gathered at the train and bus stations, seeking transport to their hometowns but with the nationwide lockdown in place, all transport facilities were closed.<ref name="HinduUncertainty4Apr" />

==Food shortages==
[[File:Migrant workers stand in a queue for food at Delhi Govt school during COVID-19 Lockdown at Delhi IMG 20200331 132400.jpg|thumb|Migrant workers stand in a queue for food at a Delhi Government school during COVID-19 lockdown at Delhi]]
According to government reports, there was enough food grain stocked up in the [[Food Corporation of India|FCI]] godowns to feed the poor for at least a year-and-a-half.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Siddhartha|last2=Parija|first2=Pratik|date=24 March 2020|title=India Has Enough Food to Feed Poor If There's a Prolonged Shutdown|work=BloombergQuint|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/india-has-enough-food-to-feed-poor-amid-prolonged-shutdown-fears}}</ref> While government schemes ensured that the poor would get additional rations due to the lockdown, the distribution system failed to be effective as the ration cards are area-specific and fair price shops were largely inaccessible. Additionally, the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' system has been implemented in very few states, as of mid April.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Impatient, Starving, Angry: As India Extends Lockdown, Stranded Migrant Workers Emerge as Crisis in Making|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/impatient-starving-angry-as-india-battles-pandemic-stranded-migrant-workers-emerge-as-crisis-in-the-making-2578109.html|date=15 April 2020|first1=Rounak|last1=Kumar Gunjan|website=News18|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> While the scheme allowed migrant workers to retrieve foodgrains for free anywhere across the country, very few were aware of the scheme. In addition to this, the scheme also required [[Biometrics|biometric authentication]], which was discontinued due to fears of spreading the virus through common fingerprint sensors.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jebaraj|first1=Priscilla|date=8 May 2020|title=Inter-State ration card portability usage very low: Food Minister|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/inter-state-ration-card-portability-usage-very-low-food-minister/article31537575.ece|access-date=9 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In Telangana, many could not avail the ration due to a lack of [[Aadhaar]] cards.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Vadlamudi|first1=Swathi|date=19 April 2020|title=Sans Aadhaar, no ration for migrants|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/sans-aadhaar-no-ration-for-migrants/article31383356.ece|access-date=19 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> As such, many were left without food and money due to the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian migrant workers walking home dial for help|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20200327152315-h00mo/ |first1=Anuradha |last1=Nagaraj |first2=Roli |last2=Srivastava |date=27 March 2020 |work=Thomson Reuters Foundation News |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> A survey published by ‘[[The Hindu]]’ states that 96% migrant workers did not get rations from the government, and 90% of them did not receive wages during the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shaji|first=Liyana|title=Flattening the Curve at the Expense of One's Constitutional Rights?|url=https://ccrd.vidhiaagaz.com/migrant-workers-flattening-the-curve-constitutional-rights/|access-date=20 September 2020|website=Centre for Constitutional Research and Development|date=20 May 2020 }}</ref>

==Exodus==
On 14 September 2020, Labour and Employment Minister [[Santosh Gangwar|Santosh Kumar Gangwar]] stated in Parliament that information collected from state governments indicated an estimated 10 million migrants had attempted to return home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharma|first=Yogima Seth|title=Labour minister Gangwar clarifies his response on migrant workers in Parliament|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/labour-minister-gangwar-clarifies-his-response-on-migrant-labourers-in-parliament/articleshow/78142699.cms|access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref> He later stated in Parliament on 15 September 2020 that no data was maintained on the number of migrants in the country who had either died, or become unemployed, as a result of the pandemic.<ref name="Nath">{{Cite news|last=Nath|first=Damini|date=14 September 2020|title=Govt. has no data of migrant workers' death, loss of job|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-has-no-data-of-migrant-workers-death-loss-of-job/article32600637.ece|access-date=12 November 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

With no work and no money, and lockdown restrictions putting a stop to public transport, thousands of migrant workers were seen walking or bicycling hundreds of kilometres (or even more than a thousand kilometres) to go back to their native villages, some with their families.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Pandey|first1=Vikas|date=20 May 2020|title=The Covid-19 migrants who never got home|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52672764|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> Many did so while hungry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus update: A long walk home on empty stomachs for masked migrants|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/caught-in-the-middle-of-an-epidemic/story-kJhANZhDiU7SkU5OYUKJbO.html|first1=Pankaj|last1=Jaiswal|date=26 March 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> Social distancing was not possible for these migrants since they travelled together in large groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/india-s-government-should-have-expected-coronavirus-migration|title=Coronavirus Exposes India's Official Callousness|last1=Sharma|first1=Mihir|date=1 April 2020|website=BloombergQuint}}</ref> According to some of them, they would rather die from the virus at their own village than starve because of no work in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=There is a humanitarian crisis in India. Lift the lockdown, now|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/there-is-a-humanitarian-crisis-in-india-lift-the-lockdown-now/story-RHG3Mjv7B3VrNszdbTZ1UI.html|date=15 May 2020|first1=Barkha|last1=Dutt|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

Many were arrested for violating the lockdown, after being caught at inter-state borders, forests between states and even on boats to cross rivers.<ref name="HTWalkTrains8May">{{Cite web|title=Across the country, migrants still forced to walk thousands of miles|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/similar-scenes-in-several-states-despite-new-trains/story-YL9qNcF315SA5o645aj1DP.html|date=8 May 2020|first1=Venkatesha|last1=Babu|first2=Sachin|last2=Saini|first3=Vijay|last3=Swaroop|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> Some of the migrants died of exhaustion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus lockdown: 12-year-old Indian migrant worker walks 100 km, dies just 11km away from home|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/coronavirus-lockdown-12-year-old-indian-migrant-worker-walks-100-km-dies-just-11km-away-from-home-1.1587462168019|website=Gulf News|date=21 April 2020|first1=Evangeline|last1=Elsa|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> Others died in accidents on the roads after walking or hiding in vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=42 Migrant Workers Died in Road Accidents While Trying to Return Home during Lockdown: Report|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/42-migrant-workers-died-in-road-accidents-while-trying-to-return-to-their-home-states-during-lockdown-report-2609841.html|date=7 May 2020|first1=Zeba|last1=Warsi|website=News18|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> On 31 March, as many as 120 migrant workers were allegedly beaten up by the police in [[Gujarat]] and forcefully rounded up in a single lorry and dropped in Maharashtra, despite being wounded.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gujarat Police to Probe Allegation That Migrant Workers Were Forced into Container Trucks|url=https://thewire.in/law/gujarat-police-inquiry-migrant-workers-container-trucks|last1=Shantha|first1=Sukanya|date=7 April 2020|work=The Wire}}</ref> In [[Aurangabad]], 16 migrants were killed on 8 May after a freight train ran over them while they were sleeping on the tracks, exhausted from walking.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrants' deaths on the tracks a wake-up call for India|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/migrants-deaths-on-the-tracks-a-wake-up-call-for-india-11588958792629.html|last1=Nandi|first1=Shreya|first2=Utpal|last2=Bhaskar|date=8 May 2020|website=Livemint|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> 26 migrants were killed in an accident between two trucks carrying migrants in [[Auraiya]] on 16 May.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Auraiya road accident: Two more migrant workers die, toll rises to 26|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/auraiya-road-accident-two-more-migrant-workers-die-toll-rises-to-26/story-UclLZQfU1mIjSEEn74d3bP.html|date=17 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> Later in May, a 15-year-old girl carried her ailing father on a bicycle for {{convert|1200|km|mi}} from Bihar to Gurugram over the course of a week. She was later approached to try out for the National Cycling Academy by the Cycling Federation of India.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gettleman|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Raj|first2=Suhasini|date=22 May 2020|title='Lionhearted' Girl Bikes Dad Across India, Inspiring a Nation|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/world/asia/india-bicycle-girl-migrants.html|access-date=29 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Later in May, despite the launching of special trains and buses by the government, the migrant workers chose to either travel together in large groups in the cargo compartments of trucks and containers, or travel by foot. They did not wait or their turn to board the government-arranged transport, mainly due to starvation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In long walk back home, migrants battle hunger, scourge of Covid-19|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-long-walk-back-home-migrants-battle-hunger-scourge-of-disease/story-TizRfUz69osJQ0Uqmm6jZN.html|last1=Venkatraman|first1=Tanushree|last2=Chauhan|first2=Saurabh|date=16 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=16 May 2020|last3=Dey|first3=Sanjoy|last4=Mishra|first4=Ritesh|archive-date=6 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906104622/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-long-walk-back-home-migrants-battle-hunger-scourge-of-disease/story-TizRfUz69osJQ0Uqmm6jZN.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Additionally, they felt that going back to their hometowns, they could return to farming and take up small jobs under the [[MGNREGA]].<ref>{{Cite news|agency=The Associated Press|date=16 May 2020|title=AP PHOTOS: An Army of Indian Migrant Workers Heads Home|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/16/world/asia/ap-as-virus-outbreak-india-migrants-photo-gallery.html|access-date=16 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The consumption of mobile and broadband data under [[BharatNet]] more than doubled in rural areas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aryan|first=Aashish|date=15 July 2020|title=As migrant workers returned home, rural data use spiked|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/migrant-workers-rural-data-consumption-bharatnet-scheme-6506117/|access-date=15 July 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2020, Minister of State for Home Affairs [[Nityanand Rai]] stated that the exodus of migrant workers had been caused by "panic created by fake news regarding the duration of lockdown."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chatterjee|first=Mohua|date=15 September 2020|title=Covid-19: 'Panic due to fake news' led to migrant exodus, no record of number of deaths, govt says|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/exodus-of-migrant-workers-triggered-by-fake-news-panic-govt-in-parliament/articleshow/78131143.cms|access-date=12 November 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Reverse exodus==
Despite government promises and schemes to generate employment in rural areas, some migrant workers began going back to the cities due to lack of employment in their hometowns, as lockdown restrictions were reduced as part of Unlock 1.0 in June. A large number of these were returning to Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Coronavirus Better Than Hunger," Say UP Migrant Workers Going Back To Work|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-migrant-workers-going-back-to-work-say-coronavirus-better-than-hunger-2253414|first=Alok|last=Pandey|date=28 June 2020|access-date=4 July 2020|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> The reopening of the regular services of the railways also helped facilitate this.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Oliver|last=Fredrick|date=3 June 2020|title=Lucknow's 'lifeline' to Mumbai back on track|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lucknow-s-lifeline-to-mumbai-back-on-track/story-3MhkCH9Pyv1STOtdysLZtJ.html|access-date=4 July 2020|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> The cities, too, reported major shortages of labour, especially in the construction industry.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Mahale|first1=Ajeet|last2=Bharadwaj|first2=K. V. Aditya|date=27 June 2020|title=After turning their backs during lockdown, cities now want migrant workers back|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/after-turning-their-backs-during-lockdown-cities-now-want-migrant-workers-back/article31927237.ece|access-date=4 July 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> A study conducted in April–May stated that 77% migrant workers were prepared to return to cities for work.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Manjula|first1=R.|last2=Rajasekhar|first2=D.|date=17 May 2020|title=77% of migrants plan to return to work in cities: Study|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/77-of-migrants-plan-to-return-to-work-in-cities-study/article31609690.ece|access-date=4 July 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The return of the migrants to cities is expected to help revive the [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India|economy, which had sustained an impact]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Patnaik|first=Ila|date=5 June 2020|title=Why migrant workers are starting to return to cities & how this can revive economy faster|url=https://theprint.in/ilanomics/why-migrant-workers-are-starting-to-return-to-cities-how-this-can-revive-economy-faster/435923/|access-date=4 July 2020|website=ThePrint}}</ref> Some employers sponsored the travel of migrants back to their workplaces. This included taxis, trains and even flights.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 June 2020|title=Trains, taxis, even flights: Return of migrant workers continues in Punjab|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/trains-taxis-even-flights-return-of-migrant-workers-continues-in-punjab-6450341/|access-date=9 July 2020|first=Raakhi|last=Jagga|website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

==Government response==
===Directives===
On 27 March, the Home Ministry ordered the states to ensure that migrants would not move during the lockdown, permitting the states to use the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for providing food and shelter to the migrants on 28 March.<ref name="Tribune75Lakh23May">{{Cite news|title=4 crore migrant workers in India; 75 lakh return home so far: MHA|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/4-crore-migrant-workers-in-india-75-lakh-return-home-so-far-mha-88940|date=23 May 2020|website=The Tribune|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

On 29 March, the government issued sweeping orders directing that the landlords should not demand rent during the period of the lockdown and that employers should pay wages without deduction. It also announced that those who violated the lockdown were to be sent to government-run quarantine facilities for 14 days, and that it had asked state governments to set up immediate relief camps for the migrant workers returning to their native states.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Pandey|first1=Devesh K.|date=29 March 2020|title=Coronavirus {{!}} Migrant workers to be stopped, quarantined at borders, says Centre|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-centre-warns-lockdown-violators-of-14-day-quarantine/article31198038.ece|access-date=2 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus crisis: Landlords can't ask rent from students, workers for 1 month|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/coronavirus-crisis-landlords-can-not-ask-rent-from-students-workers-for-1-month/story/399551.html|website=Business Today|first1=Vivek|last1=Dubey|date=29 March 2020}}</ref> However, the order regarding payment of wages was withdrawn in the guidelines for the lockdown extension issued on 17 May.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Govt withdraws order of mandatory wage payment during lockdown|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/govt-withdraws-order-of-mandatory-wage-payment-during-lockdown-839131.html|first1=Shemin|last1=Joy|date=18 May 2020|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

On 16 May, the government announced the National Migrant Information System (NMIS), an online database created by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). This was to help streamline the movement of the migrant workers. It will help states find the current number of stranded migrant workers and their location. The government planned to keep the workers updated by feeding their phone numbers in the system.<ref>{{Cite web|title=To streamline movement of migrants, Centre launches portal|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/to-streamline-movement-of-migrants-centre-launches-portal-6413670/|last=Tiwary|first=Deeptiman|date=17 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

On 14 July, the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]] requested the state governments to create a database of children in rural areas who have migrated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 July 2020|title=HRD Ministry issues guidelines to states, UTs regarding education of migrant workers' children|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/hrd-ministry-issues-guidelines-to-states-uts-regarding-education-of-migrant-workers-children/story-nm1CraBTANSsAjzd3Gi15H.html|access-date=15 July 2020|website=Hindustan Times|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

===Relief camps===
Soon after the central government directive in late March, state governments set up thousands of camps to house lakhs of migrants and stop the exodus.<ref name="21000camps" /> Delhi government provided free food to 4{{nbsp}}lakh people every day, as of late March.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 March 2020|title=Coronavirus :Delhi govt to feed 4 lakh people from tomorrow; ready for even 1,000 cases a day, says Kejriwal|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/coronavirus-delhi-to-feed-4-lakh-people-from-tomorrow-ready-for-even-1000-cases-a-day-says-kejriwal/article31180118.ece|access-date=3 April 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Over 500 hunger relief centres were set up by the Delhi government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/govt-to-give-2-meals-a-day-to-4-lakh-people-says-kejriwal/articleshow/74855058.cms|title=Delhi lockdown: Over 500 hunger relief centres set up for 4 lakh people|last1=Mathur|first1=Atul|date=28 March 2020|website=The Times of India|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref> By 5 April 75{{nbsp}}lakh people were being provided food across the country in food camps run by the government and NGOs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=6 April 2020|title=Over 75 lakh being fed at food camps: MHA|work=The Tribune|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/over-75-lakh-being-fed-at-food-camps-mha-66223|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> As of 12 April, 37,978 relief camps and 26,225 food camps had been set up.<ref>{{Cite web|title=COVID-19 situation: Nearly 38,000 relief camps set up for migrant labourers, Govt to SC|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-19-situation-nearly-38000-relief-camps-set-up-for-migrant-labourers-govt-to-sc-6380652/|date=27 April 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

To cater to the needs of the migrants and prevent them from leaving the camps, the government of [[Kerala]] changed the food being provided by adding north Indian dishes to the menu, providing carrom boards and recharge facilities for phones, as well as provide other medical essentials such as masks, sanitizers, and medicines.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rotis, mobile recharges, carrom boards – how Kerala fixed its migrant worker anger|url=https://theprint.in/India/rotis-mobile-recharges-carrom-boards-how-kerala-fixed-its-migrant-worker-anger/403937/|last1=Arnimesh|first1=Shanker|date=18 April 2020|website=ThePrint|access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref>

===Transport arrangements===
As of 28 May 9.1&nbsp;million migrants had travelled back home in government-arranged transport facilities.<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 May 2020|title=Coronavirus lockdown {{!}} Don't charge migrant workers bus or train fare, says Supreme Court|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-lockdown-dont-charge-migrant-workers-bus-or-train-fare-says-supreme-court/article31695545.ece|access-date=31 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> However, according to the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN), migrants were confused about the exact procedures to register themselves for travel. Additionally, many state registration portals were either in English or the local language of the states they lived in, which very few migrants could understand. Further, general lack of information from the government to the migrants had resulted in them paying large sums of money to register themselves.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrant workers do not know procedures: Stranded Workers Action Network|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/13/migrant-workers-do-not-know-procedures-stranded-workers-action-network-2142812.html|last1=Mitra|first1=Ritwika|date=13 May 2020|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

====Buses====
In late March, the [[Uttar Pradesh]] government decided to arrange buses at Delhi's [[Anand Vihar ISBT|Anand Vihar bus station]] to take the migrants back to their villages for free. Large crowds then gathered at the bus station.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jha|first1=Somesh|date=29 March 2020|title=Fighting Covid-19: After the long walk, jobless migrants head home by bus|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/fighting-covid-19-after-the-long-walk-jobless-migrants-head-home-by-bus-120032900041_1.html|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> However, with the extension of the lockdown, many remained stranded till the last week of April, when the state governments were permitted by the central government to operate buses, but not trains.<ref name="NDTVBuses30Apr" /> As of 23 May 4&nbsp;million migrants had travelled to their homes by buses.<ref name="Tribune75Lakh23May" /> Condition in the buses is generally poor, with social distancing being impossible due to overcrowding and higher fares being charged than promised.<ref>{{Cite web|title=An anguished lullaby, fights for seats, water: 24 hours on a Shramik Special|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/an-anguished-lullaby-fights-for-seats-water-24-hours-on-a-shramik-special-6430508/|last=Anand|first=P.|date=28 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

====Shramik Special trains====
[[File:Stranded people rushing to New Delhi rail station to catch their train during fourth phase of the lockdown IMG 20200523 125808.jpg|thumb|Stranded migrant worker rushing to [[New Delhi railway station]] to reach native village by "Shramik Special" train]]

On 1 May, the central government permitted the Indian Railways to launch "Shramik Special" trains for the migrant workers and others stranded.<ref name="HinduShramikSpecial1May" /> On 3 May, the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] mildly reprimanded the state governments for hurriedly requesting for trains to transport migrants, stating that the trains were primarily mainly meant for those who were stranded due to the sudden lockdown, and not the migrants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Send only stranded migrants: Centre tells states|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/send-only-stranded-migrants-centre-tells-states/story-UtTQSjwogahL3fHTD2sr7M.html|first1=Shishir|last1=Gupta|date=3 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> Additionally, this service was not free, with additional charges over the normal fares.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2 May 2020|title=Shramik special trains {{!}} Migrant workers, other stranded people to pay ₹50 more to get home|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/shramik-special-trains-migrant-workers-other-stranded-people-to-pay-50-more-to-get-home/article31487251.ece|access-date=9 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The central government then faced criticism from the opposition, with the [[Indian National Congress]] promising to sponsor the tickets of the migrants on 4 May.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Congress' move to sponsor rail fare for migrants sparks political tussle|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/congress-will-pay-for-rail-travel-of-needy-and-migrants-sonia-gandhi-11588564839050.html|author=Anuja|first2=Gyan|last2=Varma|date=4 May 2020|website=Livemint|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/humble-contribution-sonia-gandhi-says-congress-to-bear-rail-travel-cost-of-migrant-workers-slams-centre-2604239.html|title='Humble Contribution': Sonia Gandhi Says Congress to Bear Rail Travel Cost of Migrant Workers, Slams Govt|date=4 May 2020|website=news18.com}}</ref> The government then announced that the Railways would offer an 85% subsidy on the train fares, with the state governments funding the remaining 15%.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Under Opposition Pressure, Modi Govt Issues Misleading Explanation on Migrants' Rail Fare Breakdown|url=https://thewire.in/politics/opposition-pressure-modi-govt-migrant-workers-rail-fare|website=The Wire|date=5 May 2020}}</ref> However, the migrants were still forced to pay an undisclosed amount in some cases. The central government initially declined to share the details regarding this with the Supreme Court,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government can't tell Supreme Court if it is paying 85% rail fare|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-government-cant-tell-supreme-court-if-it-is-paying-85-rail-fare/cid/1770636|date=6 May 2020|website=The Telegraph|location=Kolkota|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> but later confirmed that it was not paying for anyone's fare.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Modi govt finally clarifies it's not paying Shramik Express fare, says states footing bill|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/modi-govt-finally-clarifies-its-not-paying-shramik-express-fare-says-states-footing-bill/431410/|last=Dhingra|first=Sanya|date=28 May 2020|website=ThePrint|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref> Additionally, the central governments directives regarding which states should pay for the migrants' travel resulted in disagreement between Maharashtra and other states.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Migrants' fare row: States paying for special trains, only Maharashtra charging|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/migrants-fare-row-states-paying-for-special-train-only-maharashtra-charging-1674214-2020-05-04 |first1=Poulomi |last1=Saha |date=4 May 2020 |work=India Today|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

A few days after the Shramik Special trains were introduced, the Karnataka government cancelled the trains (reportedly supporting the construction industry)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Coronavirus lockdown: Karnataka cancels inter-state trains fearing labour shortage|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/coronavirus-lockdown-karnataka-cancels-inter-state-trains-fearing-labour-shortage-834086.html|date=6 May 2020|website=Deccan Herald|first1=Chiranjeevi|last1=Kulkarni|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> and the Bihar government did the same to trains coming from Kerala (refusing to provide a No-Objection Certificate).<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 May 2020|title=Coronavirus {{!}} 5 trains cancelled in Kerala over NOC|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-5-trains-cancelled-in-kerala-over-noc/article31505901.ece|access-date=9 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The two states later reverted their decisions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=4 Migrant Trains From Karnataka Today As Services Restart After Criticism|url=https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/coronavirus-lockdown-3-migrant-shramik-trains-leave-from-karnataka-today-as-services-restart-after-criticism-2225456|publisher=NDTV|date=9 May 2020|first1=Maya|last1=Sharma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 2020|title=Shramik Special trains resume, five services operated|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/shramik-special-trains-resume-five-services-operated/article31513475.ece|access-date=9 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Further, migrants faced many hardships while travelling by these trains. Many reported to have no food and water arranged for them while they travelled.<ref>{{Cite web|title=11 hrs in train 'without food and water': Migrant workers on reaching Bareilly from Ludhiana|url=https://theprint.in/india/11-hrs-in-train-without-food-and-water-migrant-workers-on-reaching-bareilly-from-ludhiana/416161/|last=Taskin|first=Bismee|date=7 May 2020|website=ThePrint|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='No food, no water, no money': Back in UP's Banda on Shramik Special, migrant labourers look back on long journey home|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-no-food-no-water-no-money-back-in-ups-banda-on-shramik-special-migrant-labourers-look-back-on-long-journey-home-8371151.html|first=Khabar |last=Lahariya |date=15 May 2020 |website=Firstpost|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref> A train from Goa to Manipur reported a 58-hour delay, no proper food or sanitation facilities on the train, and stone pelting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haksar |first=Nandita |author-link=Nandita Haksar |date=27 May 2020 |title=Filthy toilets, attacked with stones: For North East workers from Goa, a 119-hour nightmare on rails |url=https://scroll.in/article/963011/filthy-toilets-attacked-with-stones-north-east-workers-from-goa-have-a-119-hour-nightmare-on-rails |access-date=27 May 2020 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref> Others who received food packets and water reported that the provisions were simply dumped at the entrances, leaving workers fighting with each other for their share.<ref name="NatGeoDogs27May" /> Some migrants also died during the train journeys,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rashid|first=Omar|date=27 May 2020|title=Coronavirus lockdown {{!}} 5 persons on Shramik Special trains die in U.P.|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coronavirus-lockdown-5-persons-on-shramik-special-trains-die-in-uttar-pradesh/article31690010.ece|access-date=28 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Migrant on Shramik Express dies hungry|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-migrant-labourer-on-shramik-express-dies-hungry/cid/1775560 |first=Piyush |last=Srivastava |date=25 May 2020 |work=The Telegraph|location=Kolkota|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Without Food for Days and in Searing Heat, Migrants Die on Shramik Special Trains|url=https://thewire.in/labour/without-food-for-days-and-in-searing-heat-migrants-die-on-shramik-special-trains|date=27 May 2020|website=The Wire|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=10-month-old Baby, Migrant Worker Die on Board Shramik Trains; Kin Blame Railways' Apathy|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/10-month-old-baby-migrant-worker-die-on-board-shramik-trains-kin-blame-railways-apathy-2637317.html|date=27 May 2020|website=News18|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> but the Railways stated that most of them had existing illnesses.<ref name="HTShramikDeaths28May">{{Cite web|title=After several deaths in Shramik trains, railways says most died of existing illness|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-several-deaths-in-shramik-trains-railways-says-most-died-of-existing-illness/story-oQCQKeSzGYHEGQdQYI31fM.html|first=Anisha|last=Dutta|date=28 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> According to Railway Protection Force, there have been almost 80 deaths on board the Shramik Special trains between 9 and 27 May.<ref name="HTShramikDeaths30May">{{Cite news|title= Railway Protection Force reports 80 deaths on Shramik trains|url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/railway-protection-force-reports-80-deaths-on-shramik-trains/story-psJl3EenY4B0uUYMRvkChL.html|first=Anisha|last=Dutta|date=30 May 2020|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> In addition, these trains spread the coronavirus around the country.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Raj|first=Suhasini|date=15 December 2020|title=The Virus Trains: How Lockdown Chaos Spread Covid-19 Across India|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/15/world/asia/india-coronavirus-shramik-specials.html|access-date=16 December 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

50% of the coaches converted into COVID-19 care centres were used for these trains. As per a report given by the Indian Railways on 23 May, migrant labourers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were 80% of the train travellers. Additionally, it was expected that 36 lakh migrants would be travelling in the ten days after the report.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In next 10 days, 36 lakh migrants will travel on Shramik Special trains: Railway|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/in-next-10-days-36-lakh-migrants-will-travel-on-shramik-special-trains-railways-11590231463881.html|date=23 May 2020|website=Livemint|editor=J. Jagannath|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> 4,277 Shramik Special trains had transported about 60{{nbsp}}lakh people, as of 12 June.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nandi|first=Shreya|date=12 June 2020|title=Indian Railways receive request for 63 Shramik Special trains|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/indian-railways-receive-request-for-63-shramik-special-trains-11591976632311.html|access-date=14 June 2020|website=Livemint}}</ref>

===Relief measures===
Soon after the nationwide lockdown was announced in late March, Finance Minister [[Nirmala Sitharaman]] announced a {{INRConvert|1.7|lc}} spending plan for the poor. This consisted of cash transfers and steps to ensure food security.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Beniwal|first1=Vrishti|last2=Srivastava|first2=Shruti|date=26 March 2020|title=India Unveils $22.6 Billion Stimulus Plan to Ease Virus Pain|work=BlooombergQuint|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-26/india-unveils-22-6-billion-stimulus-to-counter-virus-fallout}}</ref> By 3 April, the central government had released {{INR}}11,092 crore to states and UTs under the NDRF, to fund food and shelter arrangements for migrants.<ref name="Tribune75Lakh23May" /> To help provide jobs and wages to workers, the average daily wages under the MGNREGA were increased to {{INRConvert|202|}} from the earlier {{INRConvert|182}}, as of 1 April.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 March 2020|title=Centre releases Rs 4431 crore to clear pending wages under MGNREGA, to pay all dues by April 10|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/centre-releases-rs-4431-crore-to-clear-pending-wages-under-mgnrega-to-pay-all-dues-by-april-10/articleshow/74849430.cms|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref> {{INR}}1,000 crore from the PM CARES Fund was allocated for the support of migrant workers on 13 May.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sharma|first1=Akhilesh|last2=Prabhu|first2=Sunil|date=13 May 2020|title=Rs 3,100 Crore From PM CARES Fund Allocated For Ventilators, Migrants|publisher=NDTV|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rs-3-100-crores-from-pm-cares-fund-for-fight-against-coronavirus-says-pms-office-2228336|access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref> On 14 May, FM Sitharaman further announced free food grains for the migrant workers, targeting 80&nbsp;million migrant workers by spending {{INRConvert|35|b}}.<ref name="NYTFreeFood14May" />

The government of India launched the [[Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan]] initiative to tackle the impact of COVID-19 on migrant workers in India. It is a rural public works scheme which was launched on 20 June 2020 with an initial funding of {{INRConvert|50000|c|lk=on|year=2020}} for 116 districts in 6 states.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 June 2020|title=PM Modi launches Rs 50,000-crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan to generate jobs|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-launches-rs-50-000-crore-garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan-to-generate-jobs/story-xo36Sp8aBFn4nagoNx9AEO.html|access-date=20 June 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 June 2020|title=Rs 50,000 crore, 116 districts, 6 states: PM Modi launches mega Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rs-50-000-crore-116-districts-6-states-pm-modi-to-launch-mega-garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan-today/story-fH5Vic7da0H8FkEmrq49dP.html|access-date=20 June 2020|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 June 2020|title=Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan: PM Modi to launch mega Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan today|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-launch-mega-garib-kalyan-rojgar-abhiyaan-today-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/76475934.cms|access-date=20 June 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

===Labour laws===
The governments of Uttar Pradesh,<ref>{{Cite web|title=UP government suspends all labor laws except three to lure industrialists|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/up-government-suspends-all-labor-laws-except-three-to-lure-industrialists/article31531867.ece|last1=Awasthi|first1=Prashasti|date=8 May 2020|website=Business Line|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jha|first1=Somesh|date=7 May 2020|title=Covid-19 crisis: UP exempts biz from all but 4 labour laws for 3 years|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/up-govt-to-exempt-businesses-from-all-but-three-labour-laws-for-3-years-120050701531_1.html|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat sought to temporarily revise their labour laws in early May with the purpose of attracting industries and investments. Labour unions criticized this as being harmful to the migrant workers while giving more authority to the employers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 May 2020|title=The new labour rules in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/the-new-labour-rules-in-gujarat-madhya-pradesh-and-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/75646705.cms|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> Ten of them then wrote to the ILO on 14 May regarding the same, to which the ILO responded by reassuring them that it had contacted Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]].<ref name="NIELabourILO25May">{{Cite web|title=ILO expresses deep concerns over labour law suspension, tweaking to PM Modi|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2020/may/25/ilo-expresses-deep-concerns-over-labour-law-suspension-tweaking-to-pm-modi-2147853.html|website=The New Indian Express|date=25 May 2020|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

===Quarantine measures===
Many states reported high numbers of positive cases of [[COVID-19]] among the migrants returning home as lockdown restrictions eased.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ghoshal|first1=Devjyot|last2=Jadhav|first2=Rajendra|date=4 June 2020|title=India's urban COVID-19 outbreak is morphing into a rural health crisis|work=Reuters|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-migrants-idINKBN23B1M6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604191850/https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-migrants-idINKBN23B1M6|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2020|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref> State governments opened thousands of quarantine centres to house them,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Next challenge for Odisha and Bihar: Virus coming home with migrants|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/next-challenge-for-odisha-and-bihar-virus-coming-home-with-migrants-6410482/|last1=Singh|first1=Santosh|last2=Sheriff M|first2=Kaunain|date=15 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref> with some states imposing mandatory institutional quarantine. States also imposed strict measures for migrants to follow, either while leaving or after entering state borders.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrant workers return, bring home the virus: How states are building Covid walls|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/migrants-return-bring-home-the-virus/articleshow/75544708.cms|date=5 May 2020|website=The Times of India|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

==Conduct towards migrant workers==
{{quote box
| width = 250px
| bgcolor = #c6dbf7
| align = right
| quote = "In the cities they treat us like stray dogs. Why would they treat us any better now?"
| source = — A migrant worker describing the treatment he received on a "Shramik Special" train<ref name="NatGeoDogs27May" />
}}
Migrant workers who decided to stay back during the exodus faced assault from their neighbours, who accused them of being infected with coronavirus. They thus could not venture out to buy food. Many also faced police brutality if they ventured out of their homes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrants pay price of staying back in Delhi|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/coronavirus-lockdown-migrants-pay-price-of-staying-back-in-delhi/cid/1762978|work=The Telegraph (India)|first=Dev|last=Raj|date=8 April 2020|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>

Upon their return to their hometowns and villages, they were treated with either fear or a "class bias", being hosed down with disinfectants or soap solution in some cases. They were feared to be carrying coronavirus from the urban areas where they had been employed.<ref name="NPRRisky31Mar" /> They faced assault and harassment from the people of their hometowns.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrant workers return home against all odds — only to be seen as carriers of the virus|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lockdown-migrant-workers-coronavirus-pune-uttar-pradesh-bihar-6419506/|last=Rashid|first=Atikh|date=20 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref> Since many of them belonged to the lower castes, they had to face caste slurs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrant workers battle stigma, bias back home|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/migrant-workers-battle-stigma-bias-back-home/story-0uuRSEZfoickVOrPU2agGL.html|last1=Kumar|first1=Chandan|last2=Mohanty|first2=Debabrata|date=10 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref> Thousands got into property disputes.<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 June 2020|title=India's mass exodus from cities triggers village property disputes|first1=Saurabh |last1=Sharma |first2=Rupam |last2=Jain |work=Reuters|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-dispute-idINKBN23B24D|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604212837/https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-india-dispute-idINKBN23B24D|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2020|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

Migrants travelling by Shramik Special trains reported that food and water provisions were either not provided or simply dumped at the entrances of the trains, leaving workers fighting with each other to get their share. Passengers then hurriedly filled their water bottles at the railway stations that the trains stopped at.<ref name="NatGeoDogs27May" />

Many migrant workers expressed a fear of returning to their old jobs in the cities, after facing unemployment during the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No way back: Indian workers shun city jobs after lockdown ordeal|url=http://longreads.trust.org/item/india-coronavirus-migrant-workers-reluctant-return|first1=Anuradha |last1=Nagaraj |first2=Roli |last2=Srivastava |date=28 May 2020 |work=Thomson Reuters Foundation News |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Not just hunger, psychological factors, job insecurity behind migrants' exodus|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-not-just-hunger-psychological-factors-job-insecurity-behind-migrants-exodus-6373260/|date=22 April 2020|first1=Sadaf|last1=Modak|website=The Indian Express|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> Companies reported labour shortages from mid-April. Estimates state that this would last for at least another six months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Migrant Workers in India May Shun Cities After Lockdown|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/india-s-next-problem-convincing-frightened-workers-to-return|last1=Chaudhary|first1=Archana|last2=Kotoky|first2=Anurag|date=16 April 2020|website=BloombergQuint|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

==Supreme Court hearing==
The [[Supreme Court of India]] agreed to hear a petition on behalf of the migrant workers on 30 March.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supreme Court To Hear Petition On Migrants Amid Lockdown Today|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/petition-seeking-food-shelter-for-migrants-amid-coronavirus-lockdown-to-be-heard-in-supreme-court-to-2202655|last1=Vaidyanathan|first1=A|date=29 March 2020|publisher=NDTV}}</ref> The Court asked the central government to file a status report with respect to the situation of migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Panic, Fear Bigger Problem Than Coronavirus': SC On Plea On Migrant Workers' Exodus|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-supreme-court-to-hear-today-petition-seeking-amenities-for-migrant-workers/349698|date=30 March 2020|website=Outlook|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Plea on state of migrant workers: SC says it doesn't want to interfere in govt decisions|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-india-lockdown-plea-on-state-of-migrant-workers-sc-says-it-doesnt-want-to-interfere-in-govt-decisions-6352341/|date=8 April 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> In its report, the central government stated that the migrant workers, apprehensive about their survival, moved in the panic created by fake news that the lockdown would last for more than three months. The court added that it was satisfied by the government response thus far.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government Effort To Restrain Media Coverage Of Pandemic Met With Supreme Court Caution|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/law-and-policy/government-effort-to-restrain-media-coverage-of-pandemic-met-with-supreme-court-caution|last1=Chaturvedi|first1=Arpan|date=1 April 2020|website=BloombergQuint|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Centre blames media 'fake news' for mass migration during lockdown|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/article31228357.ece|last1=Rajalakshmi|first1=T. K.|date=1 April 2020|website=The Hindu Frontline|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref>

A plea requesting payment of minimum wage was rejected by the Court on 21 April, on the grounds of workers already being provided free meals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Judiciary failed to protect citizens' rights amid Covid-19 pandemic: Dushyant Dave|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/judiciary-failed-to-protect-citizens-rights-amid-covid-19-pandemic-dushyant-dave/story-GXUEmIQQaamHZGEcLcTYgJ.html|date=23 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

On 16 May, the Supreme Court rejected a [[Public interest litigation in India|PIL]] to direct the [[District magistrate]]s to identify and provide free relief and transport to the migrant workers, stating that it was the responsibility of the state governments. Speaking about the workers killed sleeping on the Aurangabad railway tracks, the Court stated that it could not have been prevented. Further, the central government stated that inter-state transport had already been provided to the migrants and requested them to wait their turn instead of choosing to walk.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Can't stop or monitor their movement on roads': SC rejects plea seeking relief for migrants|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-on-migrant-workers-movement-on-roads-covid19-lockdown-6411143/|last1=G|first1=Ananthakrishnan|date=16 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref>

On 26 May, the Supreme Court admitted that the problems of the migrants had still not been solved and that there had been "inadequacies and certain lapses" on the part of the governments. It thus ordered the Centre and States to provide free food, shelter and transport to stranded migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=26 May 2020|title=Supreme Court orders Centre and States to immediately provide transport, food and shelter free of cost to stranded migrant workers|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-takes-suo-motu-cognisance-of-migrant-workers-issue/article31679389.ece|access-date=27 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Hours before this ruling, senior lawyers from Mumbai and Delhi wrote a strongly-worded letter to the Court, regarding its "self-effacing deference" towards the government thus far.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rajagopal|first=Krishnadas|date=27 May 2020|title=Hours before taking up migrant workers issue, Supreme Court got stinging letter from senior lawyers|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hours-before-taking-up-migrant-workers-issue-supreme-court-got-stinging-letter-from-senior-lawyers/article31685187.ece|access-date=27 May 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Deaths==
{{quote box
| width = 250px
| bgcolor = #c6dbf7
| align = right
| quote = "The rich will get all the help, getting rescued and brought home in planes from abroad. But we poor migrant labourers have been left to fend for ourselves. That is the worth of our lives."
| source = — A weeping migrant worker stuck in Delhi, who could not see his dying son in Bihar<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus lockdown:Image of a weeping Rampukar Pandit becomes symbol of India's migrant worker tragedy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rampukars-tears-shock-humanity/article31609524.ece |access-date=18 May 2020 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |work=The Hindu |date=17 May 2020}}</ref>
}}
The [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Ministry of Labour and Employment]] stated in September 2020, in Parliament, that the Government of India had not maintained any data on the number of migrant worker deaths that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.<ref name="Nath"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2020|title=Parliament session: No data available on migrants' deaths during lockdown, says govt|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-coronavirus-job-loss-migrant-workers-death-no-data-centre-6595549/|access-date=12 November 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Unofficial estimates have been prepared by a number of sources. A group of independent researchers were quoted by [[News18]] as stating that 971 deaths not directly caused by COVID-19 diagnoses had occurred as of July 2020, basing their total on news reports of such deaths during the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2020|title=While Centre Has 'No Such Data' on Deaths of Migrants & Job Losses, Here's What Reports Say|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/while-centre-has-no-such-data-on-deaths-of-migrant-labourers-job-losses-heres-what-reports-say-2876305.html|access-date=12 November 2020|website=News18|language=en}}</ref> The causes for these deaths have been reported as with reasons ranging from starvation, suicides,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The human cost of India's coronavirus lockdown: Deaths by hunger, starvation, suicide and more|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/the-human-cost-of-indias-coronavirus-lockdown-deaths-by-hunger-starvation-suicide-and-more-1.1586956637547|website=Gulf News|first1=Evangeline|last1=Elsa|date=15 April 2020|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> exhaustion,<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 May 2020|title=Suicide leading cause for over 300 lockdown deaths in India, says study|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/suicide-leading-cause-for-over-300-lockdown-deaths-in-india-says-study/articleshow/75519279.cms|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> road and rail accidents,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gettleman|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Raj|first2=Suhasini|last3=Kumar|first3=Hari|date=8 May 2020|title=As India Reopens, Deadly Accidents Break Out|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/world/asia/india-leak-train-reopen.html|access-date=13 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> police brutality<ref>{{Cite news|title=56-year-old migrant dies on road to home, another dies after police lathi charge|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/56-year-old-migrant-worker-on-his-way-to-home-dies-on-road-28-year-old-migrant-dies-in-police-lathicharge-in-surat/story-O1NI1kDAWYRAAQOg4dkT6M.html|date=15 May 2020|first1=Debabrata|last1=Mohanty|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> and denial of timely medical care. Among the reported deaths, most were among the marginalised migrants and labourers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=More than 300 Indians have died of the coronavirus, and nearly 200 of the lockdown|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/more-than-300-indians-have-died-of-the-coronavirus-and-nearly-200-of-the-lockdown/400714/|last1=Vij|first1=Shivam|date=13 April 2020|website=ThePrint|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Not Just the Aurangabad Accident, 383 People Have Died Due to the Punitive Lockdown|url=https://thewire.in/rights/migrant-workers-non-coronavirus-lockdown-deaths|last1=Agarwal|first1=Kabir|date=10 May 2020|website=The Wire|access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> 80 died while travelling back home on the Shramik Special trains, in the one month since their launch.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus in India: 80 migrant workers have died on Shramik Special trains, Indian tweeps furious|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/coronavirus-in-india-80-migrant-workers-have-died-on-shramik-special-trains-indian-tweeps-furious-1.1590935479789|first=Evangeline |last=Elsa |date=31 May 2020 |work=Gulf News|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=29 May 2020|title=Indian Authorities Probe Deaths of Migrant Workers on Trains|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/29/world/asia/ap-as-virus-outbreak-india-migrant-deaths.html|access-date=29 May 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Notably, on 8 May, a freight train killed 16 migrants who had stopped to rest on railway tracks near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. On 14 May, eight migrant workers were killed and nearly 55 injured when the truck they were in collided with a bus near Guna, Madhya Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus lockdown: So far, over 130 migrants killed in accidents en route to their home states |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-lockdown-count-of-migrants-killed-in-accidents-enroute-their-home-states-6412475 |date=18 May 2020|website=The IndianExpress|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> On 16 May 24 migrant workers were killed and many more were injured when a trailer carrying migrants (along with sacks of lime) rammed into a stationary truck, also carrying migrants, in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=India coronavirus lockdown: Road accident kills 24 migrant workers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52688899 |date=16 May 2020|publisher=BBC|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> According to data collected by [[SaveLIFE Foundation]], an NGO working in road safety, 198 migrant workers were killed in road accidents, as of 2 June.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Anisha|last1=Dutta|date=2 June 2020|title=198 migrant workers killed in road accidents during lockdown: Report|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/198-migrant-workers-killed-in-road-accidents-during-lockdown-report/story-hTWzAWMYn0kyycKw1dyKqL.html|access-date=13 June 2020|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

==Reception==
Thousands of migrants have since protested across the country, for reasons ranging from demanding transport back home,<ref>{{Cite web|title="They Told Us They Would Take Us Home": Migrants Protest In Karnataka|url=https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/coronavirus-india-lockdown-migrants-protest-in-karnataka-they-told-us-they-would-take-us-home-2223604|first1=Maya |last1=Sharma |date=5 May 2020 |website=NDTV.com|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> quality of food served,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gujarat lockdown: Protests by migrant workers erupt again in Surat, this time over quality of food being served|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/gujarat-lockdown-protests-by-migrant-workers-erupt-again-in-surat-this-time-over-quality-of-food-being-served/1930651/|date=16 April 2020|website=The Financial Express|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> not being allowed to cross the border,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Not allowed to enter UP after walking 200 km, migrants protest|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/not-allowed-to-enter-up-migrants-protest-86082|date=18 May 2020|work=The Tribune|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> and against government directives preventing them to walk home.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thousands of Migrants Protest, Block Mathura Highway After Yogi Adityanath's No Movement on Foot Order|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/thousands-of-migrants-protest-block-mathura-highway-after-yogi-adityanaths-no-movement-on-foot-order-2623801.html|first1=Qazi |last1=Faraz Ahmad|date=17 May 2020|website=News18|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> Some of the protests turned violent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Over 6,000 Bihar migrants protest in Saharanpur|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/over-6000-bihar-migrants-protest-in-saharanpur/articleshow/75799651.cms |first1=Piyush |last1=Rai |date=18 May 2020|website=The Times of India|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Trouble at borders as migrants protest at being stopped from entering UP|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/trouble-at-borders-as-migrants-protest-at-being-stopped-from-entering-up-86038|last1=Naim|first1=Shahira|date=17 May 2020|work=The Tribune|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

Labour unions organised nationwide protests to protest the changes in labour laws, with the [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]] organizing one on 20 May<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mazdoor Sangh to Hold Nationwide Protest Against Dilution of Labour Laws Tomorrow|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/mazdoor-sangh-to-hold-nationwide-protest-against-dilution-of-labour-laws-tomorrow-2627743.html|date=19 May 2020|website=News18|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> and the [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]] and the [[All India Trade Union Congress]] organizing another on 22 May.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's Why Trade Unions Have Called for a Nationwide Protest on May 22|url=https://thewire.in/labour/trade-union-protest-labour-laws|first1=Shikha |last1=Mukerjee |date=20 May 2020 |website=The Wire|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> Seven left parties wrote to the President to intervene in the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Some states put freeze on labour laws to get business going|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/some-states-freeze-labour-laws/story-6JMELEPdIugsHt8YjQT5vN.html|last1=Haq|first1=Zia|last2=Chatterji|first2=Saubhadra|date=8 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=29 May 2020|last3=Kak Ramachandran|first3=Smriti}}</ref> Ten labour unions wrote to the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding the labour laws, on 14 May.<ref name="NIELabourILO25May" /> In response, the ILO expressed "deep concern" to PM Modi and requested him to instruct the central and state governments to uphold commitments (towards labour laws) made by India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ILO expresses deep concern at 'suspension' of labour laws|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/ilo-expresses-deep-concern-at-suspension-of-labour-laws/article31673364.ece|last=Jigeesh|first=A. M.|work=Business Line|date=25 May 2020|access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

Negative comparisons have been made between the situation of many domestic migrants and Indians abroad: [[Shekhar Gupta]] criticized the media and Modi for focusing on the [[Vande Bharat Mission]] and thus the more affluent at the expense of the working class.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Shekhar|last1=Gupta|access-date=16 May 2020|title=Vande Bharat vs Bharat ke bande: Can Narendra Modi be losing his political touch so soon?|url=https://theprint.in/national-interest/vande-bharat-vs-bharat-ke-bande-can-narendra-modi-be-losing-his-political-touch-so-soon/417506/|date=9 May 2020|work=The Print}}</ref> Some politicians criticised the central government for not focusing enough on migrant workers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Can't poor in the country avail of Vande Bharat Mission, says Akhilesh Yadav|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/can-t-poor-in-the-country-avail-of-vande-bharat-mission-says-akhilesh-yadav/story-C9WF11nEVGMT7JWdFP85nO.html|date=14 May 2020|website=Hindustan Times|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Centre ignoring domestic migrant workers: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/centre-ignoring-domestic-migrant-workers-shiv-sena-mp-sanjay-raut-836442.html|date=11 May 2020|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> [[NITI Aayog]] CEO, [[Amitabh Kant]], admitted that the migrant workers could have been better taken care of and stated that it was the responsibility of the state governments.<ref>{{Cite web|title="We Could Have Done Much, Much Better": NITI Aayog CEO On Migrants|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-lockdown-amitabh-kant-on-migrants-we-could-have-done-much-much-better-2233658|publisher=NDTV|editor-first=Divyanshu|editor-last=Dutta Roy|date=23 May 2020|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref> Economist [[Jean Drèze]] stated that the lockdown had been "almost a death sentence" for the underprivileged of the country, further stating, "The policies are made or influenced by a class of people who pay little attention to the consequences for the underprivileged".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lockdown & Labour Pain: The Demand for MNREGA Work Has Never Been so Strong, Says Economist Jean Dreze|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/lockdown-labour-pain-the-demand-for-mnrega-work-has-never-been-so-strong-says-economist-jean-dreze-2600383.html|first1=Rupashree|last1=Nanda|date=1 May 2020|website=News18|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>

In May, [[Manoj Muntashir]] composed a poem on the plight of migrant workers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=मजदूरों की मदद का तमाशा करने वालों को मनोज मुंतशिर का करारा जवाब|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/e-sahitya-aaj-tak-2020-manoj-muntashir-on-lockdown-corona-migrant-workers-tmov-1-1193727.html|access-date=25 July 2020|website=India Today|date=23 May 2020 |language=hi}}</ref> Later in June, [[Javed Akhtar]] also composed one on the same.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch {{!}} Javed Akhtar Recites His Poem on the Plight of Migrant Labourers|url=https://thewire.in/video/watch-javed-akhtar-recites-his-poem-on-the-plight-of-migrant-labourers|first=Javed|last=Akhtar|author-link=Javed Akhtar|others=English translation by Jalil, Rakshanda|access-date=4 July 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref>

The Supreme Court of India praised the [[Government of Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh government]] for the handling of this crisis.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |last2= |last3= |first3= |title=Uttar Pradesh govt's handling of migrant crisis draws praise from Supreme Court |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-govts-handling-of-migrant-crisis-draws-praise-from-supreme-court/articleshow/83973513.cms |access-date=2022-07-03 |website=The Times of India |date= 30 June 2021|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[COVID-19 lockdown in India]]
* [[Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite report |url=https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/briefingnote/wcms_740877.pdf |title=ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work |publisher=International Labour Organization |date=7 April 2020}}
* {{cite report |url=https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/RevisedPsychosocialissuesofmigrantsCOVID19.pdf |title=Psychosocial Issues Among Migrants During COVID-19 {{!}} Understanding the issues of the migrant population- COVID-19 |publisher=[[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]]}}
* {{cite report |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/health-coronavirus-india-migrants/ |title=The Long Road Home: a coronavirus journey in India |first1=Alasdair |last1=Pal |first2=Danish |last2=Siddiqui |author-link2=Danish Siddiqui |date=21 April 2020 |work=Reuters}}

==External links==
* [https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/08/25/nl-interview-barkha-dutt-on-covering-migrant-crisis-the-media-economy-and-falling-out-with-promoters NL Interview: Barkha Dutt on covering migrant crisis, the media economy, and falling out with promoters]

{{COVID-19 pandemic|impacts}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in India}}

[[Category:2020 in India]]
[[Category:COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Economy of India]]
[[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Internal migration in India]]
[[Category:Migrant workers]]