COVID-19 and the Indigenous Migrants’ Question in Urban India

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as one of the most severe global health crises, profoundly impacting economies and societies worldwide. Among the many affected groups, migrant workers in India have borne a disproportionate share of the burden. The sudden imposition of a nationwide lockdown on March 24, 2020, aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, left millions of migrant workers stranded in cities without jobs, income, or means of transportation to return to their native places. This humanitarian crisis has highlighted the deep-seated vulnerabilities of India's migrant workforce, particularly those hailing from tribal communities.