Destitute and vulnerable: The challenges faced by India's migrants during lockdown

“Forget what it is like stepping out of the house for 21 days. Stay at home and only stay at home.” Those were the sharp words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March as India plunged into a state of absolute lockdown. 

India’s proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past month has received plaudits from many quarters. A democracy that houses a population of 1.3 billion people faces a challenge unlike any other. Bustling cities, poor hygiene, a creaking healthcare system and the rising wealth inequalities only sum up half the story. In short, an unprepared India would have been the perfect victim for the spread of this lethal virus. The government recognised this and reacted decisively. But what of the collateral damage? One month post lockdown, a bigger picture has begun to emerge. At the heart of this picture lies the fate of the destitute migrant.  

THE IMPACT OF THE LOCKDOWN ON MIGRANTS

The Indian government announced drastic lockdown measures a mere four hours prior to such measures taking effect. Not only did this cause significant upheaval for people suddenly deprived of the opportunity to earn an income, but the government also grossly underestimated the impending short-term labour migration as people who could no longer afford to live in cities sought to return to homes thousands of kilometres away. There was no contingency plan or provision to address the plight of displaced workers.

Overnight, India had entered a state of unprecedented mass exodus. Mahesh Jana, a 20-year old labourer, undertook a perilous 15-day journey across the northern belt of India to reach home. Armed with a few packets of biscuits and no map, he pedalled and walked furiously to cover 1700 km. Jana is hardly the only one. His story is a proxy for millions of people across India. Jana’s tale still exhibits muted hope. There are dozens who have committed suicide or died along the way. 

But the lockdown is more than just a catalyst for chaos. It also exposes the government’s unflinching apathy towards its most neglected class. More than 80% of India’s workforce is constituted by the informal sector. That accounts for 400 million  workers. Migrant workers play an instrumental role in various industries, such as construction, food, and textile production. It wouldn’t be farfetched to say India’s revving growth engines would have collapsed in the absence of migrant labour. But yet, the migrant worker remains the most invisible, vulnerable part of the domestic landscape. 

The lockdown has certainly taken the harshest toll on migrants. Their livelihoods were snatched away within a matter of hours.  It is important to note that a majority of these migrant workers in cities survive on a miserly daily wage. They are bereft of savings and income. Most of these workers also happen to be the main or only earning member of their family.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that 40 million workers in the informal sector could now potentially sink deeper into poverty. The World Bank in its recent document COVID-19: Through a Migration Lens” stated that “Lockdown, loss of employment and social distancing prompted a chaotic and painful process of mass return for internal migrants in India.” The pandemic is destructive, but the Indian government faces a grave dilemma: lives or livelihood?    

 THE RESPONSE OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT

The government has been under considerable domestic pressure to combat the unfolding humanitarian crisis.  In response, the Prime Minister has declared a sum of 150 billion rupees to be utilised for COVID-19 orientated health infrastructure. An economic task force has been established to develop policies that complement the political framework and provide fiscal support. A 1.7 trillion rupee relief package has also been promised to provide succour to vulnerable people. Food rations and shelters are being set up. State governments are being ordered to issue targeted financial relief to low wage workers. A lot of it personifies perfection on paper. But as we examine the ground reality, the fissures begin to open up. 

According to Nobel Prize economist, Abhijit Banerjee, “We haven’t done anything close to enough.” He believes the government needs to make their funding patterns much more liberal and far reaching. His concerns are reflected in the surveys. According to Jan Sahas, a non-profit organization, 62% of workers interviewed did not have information regarding the government’s welfare measures and 37% of workers interviewed did not know how to access the existing schemes. The much touted gamechanger, the ‘PM CARES Relief Fund’, has also come under flak for its lack of transparency.

And if one looks at the larger picture, more discrepancies begin to pop up.  India was one of the first countries to spend generously and rescue their citizens stranded abroad.  This approach could arguably have been extended for migrants isolated from their native villages. The economic and physical distress they face is in stark comparison to the relatively comfortable plight of non-resident Indians stuck abroad. 

Legal questions have also begun to arise with regard to fundamental human rights. According to constitutional scholars, India’s state action needs to be critically examined. The lockdown may be a policy decision. But it is one which infringes upon the right to equality and dignified livelihood enshrined in the country’s constitution. The Supreme Court too has been a mute spectator. A prominent public interest litigation demanding minimum wages for the migrants was rejectedlast month. The act of walking back is a symbolic distrust of the state and its assistance more than anything else. The Indian Express writes, “The poor see and experience the state often through a lens of violence and control…and rarely through a prism of care.” A hapless migrant starved of funds and food will not prioritise terms like “social distancing” and “lockdown”. Social distancing pales in the absence of social security. 

THE ROAD AHEAD

Looking ahead, the future looks uncertain. India functions on a federal model of governance. A political tussle has ensued between states and the central government regarding allocation of disaster funds. According to official estimates, more than ten million migrants are still stranded. The journeys undertaken by many migrants are fraught with danger and often death, as was the case for fifteen labourers who were run over by a train last week. The repercussions of this crisis are grave. Words from Bertolt Bretch’s poignant poem ring louder than ever: “As daily bread is necessary, so is daily justice.”

Screenshot 2020-05-26 at 11.14.18.png

Souryaditya is currently a first year LLB student at the University of Leeds. He is a politics enthusiast with a keen interest in the sphere of international and commercial law. He has also been a competitive debater and leader across student platforms.

LinkedIn