Reverse Migration: Comparative Study Of Internal And International Migrant Workers And State Potential
Abstract
The primary factors influencing migration within and between India and other countries are the current unemployment rate, the level of competition in the job market, and the improved opportunities for a better livelihood in the destination state or country. Conversely, the enforcement of a countrywide lockdown and the shutdown of interstate and international borders as strategies to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in the movement of informal migrant workers. To successfully reintegrate individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic into the economy after its conclusion, the central and state governments must collaborate and develop efficient strategies. This study examines the complexities of reverse migration among migrant workers from both domestic and international origins. It highlights the government's potential role in supervising and taking advantage of this migration trend. This research aims to evaluate the different approaches adopted by the Indian government towards its domestic and international refugees during the phases of reverse migration, repatriation, and reintegration that followed the declaration of the lockdown. The paper begins by conducting a comparative analysis of the difficulties encountered by domestic and foreign migrant workers during these stages and how different countries dealt with the situation through their policies, the existing data collected from social workers and migrants facilitates this comparison. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the obstacles encountered by Indian migrants during their economic reintegration to craft welfare policies specifically designed for this demographic and the government's different responses to repatriation.
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