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Hyderabad | Updated: April 17, 2020 9:57:42 pm

Written by Ipsita Sapra

Certain images haunt us for a lifetime. Thousands of desperate migrants assembling at Bandra Station in Mumbai to catch a train back to their villages. Groups of migrants walking hundreds of kilometers towards their villages with their meagre belongings. As the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, a picture of desperation is unfolding in India over the past few weeks.

Looking through a sociological lens, this article foregrounds some perturbing social and psychological consequences of the pandemic that needs serious engagement. Indeed, left unattended, this has the potential to shatter social stability as desperate people might soon refuse to accept norms that have moderated society in the pre-COVID era.

A significant number of migrant workers have experienced an abrupt breakdown of cash flows. Job losses, pay cuts have been commonplace, while basic expenses have remained, at best, unchanged. All of a sudden, a large number of migrant workers who worked hard, lived with dignity and were self sufficient for meeting their basic needs and also for sending remittances to their families back home, are facing abject economic deprivation. Their clamour for the basics of life is considered an unlawful act during the lockdown. In some places, they have been at the receiving end of police action for violation. Their dignity as self-reliant workers and breadwinners for the families back home is severely compromised.

As innate resilience gives way to desperation, there are chances of disintegration of the social order. The biopsychosocial model of health, a framework developed by George L. Engel in 1977, captures COVID-19 type situations from the lens of interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors that influence the outcome of disease. Given that COVID-19 is a public-health emergency with tremendous social and psychological manifestation, it is important to engage on these aspects with much greater attention than what has been done thus far.

The social fabric is going through a metamorphosis in the COVID-19 situation and we might see a tectonic shift in the way social and economic life is organised.

Way back in 1893, Emile Durkhiem, the renowned French sociologist, in his work, The Division of Labour in Society, had engaged with the ideas that kept society together. He had asserted that modern societies, characterised by differentiation and specialisation of roles, is kept together by the very dependence which individuals develop on each other.

Cut to modern day societies, this interdependence is taken for granted. It is not perfect, with some roles more rewarded, or more marginalised than others. For example, the real estate sector is totally dependent on the construction workers. However, distribution of wealth across the different players in the sector is very skewed. Even in such sectors, there is a semblance of equilibrium. It is this tentative stability of social solidarity through interdependence that holds society together.

COVID-19 seems to have altered this tremendously. The suddenness of the lockdown left no room for preparedness for many, especially the poor. The trauma and distress conjured up a picture of grave uncertainties. Not only are the migrants running out of food stock and cash reserves, with depleting resources and supplies, they are increasingly running out of patience. Worse, they are running out of hope.

Social solidarity is now very likely to hang by a thread. Are we heading towards, anomie, a state described by Durkhiem as that of normlessness that stems from a feeling of deep disconnect from the rules of a society? This often occurs during periods of drastic and rapid changes that disrupt the conventions that guided the social, economic, or political structures of society.

The accounts of migrants reflect a breakdown- the city is no longer the home. Home is only where intimate relations are. Home is where the small patch of land, the only semblance of an asset, remains. Home is the only address that the Public Distribution System (PDS) of the country recognises. This city is just a workspace opaque, cruel and now, diseased. These narratives point to a sharp distinction between the pre and post pandemic world order. The norms that were accepted during the pre COVD-19 period might be challenged by the millions who have been pushed to the margin like never before, and who no longer find these valid.

The psychological consequences of the pandemic are also enormous. The focus on transmission of the infection does not allow sufficient public attention to psycho-social imprints on the affected individuals as well as in the general population. This is particularly true in a country like India where resources for mental health care are grossly inadequate. Emotional wellbeing is severely tested as migrant workers are now also unable to return to their families and social connections. This exacerbates existing mental health issues and creates newer ones. The likely manifestations of frustration could be self-harm or violence against partners and children. This may also lead to defiance of law and order, and attack on frontline police officials trying to enforce lockdown.

The larger consequence of this could be a civil unrest. In the age of social media, such news will travel swiftly and have a cascading effect across the country. Once out of hand, this can spell doom for all efforts at containment, while bringing enormous misery to all concerned.

Is there a solution to this looming crisis?

Two specific dimensions need to be considered.

The first is the welfare entitlements of the migrants. These should be a range of immediate measures that can address the heightened economic distress caused by the pandemic. This includes assured food supply, safe shelter, state transfers to cover basic expenses and access to any medical needs. These can be supported over the medium term with measures such as portable and universal Public Distribution System, a revamped MGNREGA with greater outreach.

The second is through timely and authentic communication. Even in uncertain times, clear and timely communication about the next meal or shelter and transport arrangements can go a long way in assuaging anxieties. Authentic information, such as preventive measures, disseminated in accessible format, such as short WhatsApp videos, can be reassuring. Ability to speak to loved ones without having to worry about the call expenses can replenish hope. This can be done through trained psychological counsellors and social workers.

All of these measures, social and psychological, are not to be seen as doles of a benevolent state or charity of civil society organisations. These have to be understood as basic components of social justice and as critical enablers of stability and solidarity in the extraordinary times of the pandemic.

Ipsita Sapra is Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad

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Can the migrant crisis lead to a breakdown of the society as we know it? - The Indian Express

Growing up in Hong Kong, I was constantly surrounded by people from around the world. From the UK to South Africa and Canada, I was exposed to a number of different cultures in my day-to-day life, especially in school. But it wasnt until middle school, where acquaintances would casually use two distinct terms to define either affluent or poorer areas of the city, that I really began to take notice of the significance of the language of immigration.

Based on what I observed, it was clear that whenever someone referred to a person as an expat, they generally tended to be middle to upper-class native English speakers, working in professions such as banking, tech, education or creative roles. When it came to the word immigrant, the term tended to apply loosely to both blue-collar workers, and those desperate to flee their birth country in order to make a better life for themselves.

Around a month ago, while FaceTiming a friend who had just moved back to Singapore from London, the extent of those differences became even more pronounced. In the middle of our chat, he mentioned a print magazine called Expat Living, and how bizarre it was that among other publications, it was still considered a best-seller in the country despite the dying print media industry. It led me to think about the marketing power of the word expat clearly a symbol of financial value in society. It placed them on a uniquely aspirational pedestal.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Expats are praised for daring to move to a new country, while immigrants feel pressured to get approval from citizens and assimilate for survival. Whether its a conscious or subconscious decision, theres no denying that these terms represent the double standards in societys view on immigration. Its not so different here in London, where even after seven years of living here, I'm still confronted by the same forms of hypocrisy, especially in the language the media uses in stories about immigration. Prior to this pandemic, for example, a simple search for the terms "immigrant" would typically pull up more divisive and sensationalist headlines.

In popular media, the word immigrant often showcases individual storylines of struggle, hard work and overcoming hardships. On Instagram, a search for accounts and posts hashtagged with immigrant reveal feeds of documentary-style visuals and text about sacrifice and injustice. Clearly, theres a heavy sense of activism connected to the immigrant experience in the media, in contrast to the image of luxury and privilege that is seen to come with being an expat.

Why? When it comes to the way people treat both groups, the narratives the words we use to describe create an unconscious bias. Theres a general feeling that immigrants are associated with negative qualities about their birthplace, whereas expats are commended for living in a country outside of their own. The meanings weve ascribed to these words have a lot to do with connotations about certain races and class systems.

Look at the etymology of the word "expat" (the short form of "Expatriate"), for example. It derives from the Latin terms "ex" (out of) and "patria" (fatherland). By definition, an expat is just someone who moves to live in a country they werent born in. Interestingly, the term was most commonly used in the 20th century to describe British servants who were often sent to work abroad against their will. According to Sophie Cranston, a lecturer in human geography at Loughborough University, who spoke to The Atlantic about the changing meaning of terms like expat, it was only in the early 90s, that it came to mean what it does now: a descriptor for (typically wealthy) westerners living abroad.

With immigration being brought up more on social and mainstream media, its also important to note that these terms are being reclaimed. The term migrant, which is sometimes used in place of immigrant and often bears the same connotations (although the definitions vary from place to place), seems to have been reclaimed.

In 2015-16, immigration became the hottest political topic in the UK due to the European migrant crisis and Brexit. The Leave campaign heavily focused on villainising immigrants in the media, using anti-migrant propaganda and anti-migrant sentiments to create fear towards them, which subsequently led to their unfortunate victory.

The negativity has since inspired a rise of people from immigrant backgrounds to create movements reclaiming and redefining the meaning of being an immigrant. Groups like Migrants in Culture and Migration Collective are both optimistic examples of how immigrants have used the power of art, statistics, and culture to express different realities and examine issues regarding immigration in the UK.

Migrant Journal, a monthly print and digital magazine with a social media platform that focuses on the experiences of people, goods, and information around the world and the positive impact they have on various spaces, has also embraced the word migrant. The design of their issues are illustrative, with cerebral stories and minimal details that bring a smart and thoughtful impression to migrant labels. Theyve shown that beyond the stories of people, other things such as objects, spaces and fine art can express the immigrant experience in media in a highbrow manner.

Contrastingly, theres a rise in using social media to poke fun at expat realities and stereotypes. For instance, the popular meme Instagram account @hkmehmeh was founded by a Korean woman who identifies as an expat living in Hong Kong. Her account uses popular internet culture with a mix of Cantonese slang and relatable "Hong Kong" sayings to create humorous memes that put a light-hearted spin on living in the city from an expat perspective. The accounts satirical integration of expatriate stereotypes and local culture makes it entertaining for all people who reside in the city theres no discrimination with her memes. As a Korean expat, her presence is inadvertently broadening the image of expat and diminishing the assumption that expats can only be white people.

A few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Maria was told her to go back to her native Romania whilst in hospital by an elderly English woman. You are a foreigner, your place is not here recalls Maria, who was stunned

Reuters

The couple are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London

Reuters

Elena holds up British passports belonging to her and her sister. Both children have dual citizenship, but their parents do not want to apply for this despite having permanent residency in Britain

Reuters

Maria had never faced direct abuse over her nationality in her 10 years in the country until that moment at the hospital

Reuters

Adi spends time with his daughters

Reuters

Adi plays hide and seek with his daughter Elena

Reuters

Food is served

Reuters

Adi takes his daughter, Elena, to nursery

Reuters

Adi's sister, Nicoleta, 34, carries her niece Elena in a restaurant after a trip out

Reuters

Adi and Maria cook together at their home

Reuters

Adi holds his baby daughter, Ioana

Reuters

Adi and wife Maria take their daughters for a walk in Hampstead Heath

Reuters

Berwyn, a neighbour of the couple, who moved to the UK in the 1980s from Australia, says goodbye to Maria after a visit at her home. Berwyn has dual citizenship - Australian and Irish as she lived in Ireland for a few years before moving to Britain. She calls the family her 'dearest Christian Romanian friends'

Reuters

Religious pictures including a portrait of Arsenie Boca, a Romanian Orthodox monk, theologian and artist (top), hang on the wall at the home of Adi and Maria

Reuters

Maria dries Elena after giving her a bath after nursery

Reuters

Maria holds her baby daughter Ioana

Reuters

Adi works with his colleague Alexandru, who is also from Romania, for a removal company

Reuters

Maria holds her daughter Elena

Reuters

Neighbour, Berwyn, holds baby Ioana

Reuters

Adi and Maria, along with their daughters, leave St Andrews church in Kingsbury after attending a service

Reuters

A few months after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Maria was told her to go back to her native Romania whilst in hospital by an elderly English woman. You are a foreigner, your place is not here recalls Maria, who was stunned

Reuters

The couple are preparing to leave Britain later this year with their two children, fed up with what Maria says is xenophobia and the rising cost of living in London

Reuters

Elena holds up British passports belonging to her and her sister. Both children have dual citizenship, but their parents do not want to apply for this despite having permanent residency in Britain

Reuters

Maria had never faced direct abuse over her nationality in her 10 years in the country until that moment at the hospital

Reuters

Adi spends time with his daughters

Reuters

Adi plays hide and seek with his daughter Elena

Reuters

Food is served

Reuters

Adi takes his daughter, Elena, to nursery

Reuters

Adi's sister, Nicoleta, 34, carries her niece Elena in a restaurant after a trip out

Reuters

Adi and Maria cook together at their home

Reuters

Adi holds his baby daughter, Ioana

Reuters

Adi and wife Maria take their daughters for a walk in Hampstead Heath

Reuters

Berwyn, a neighbour of the couple, who moved to the UK in the 1980s from Australia, says goodbye to Maria after a visit at her home. Berwyn has dual citizenship - Australian and Irish as she lived in Ireland for a few years before moving to Britain. She calls the family her 'dearest Christian Romanian friends'

Reuters

Religious pictures including a portrait of Arsenie Boca, a Romanian Orthodox monk, theologian and artist (top), hang on the wall at the home of Adi and Maria

Reuters

Maria dries Elena after giving her a bath after nursery

Reuters

Maria holds her baby daughter Ioana

Reuters

Adi works with his colleague Alexandru, who is also from Romania, for a removal company

Reuters

Maria holds her daughter Elena

Reuters

Neighbour, Berwyn, holds baby Ioana

Reuters

Adi and Maria, along with their daughters, leave St Andrews church in Kingsbury after attending a service

Reuters

While these labels once showed the double standards of the language of migration, they're beginning to break away from strict definitions. By forging cultural visibility for terms like these, we create opportunities for more open conversations about questioning the need for labels, their effect on our unconscious bias and reclaiming these terms in a positive way.

Platforms that enable positive outlooks on reclaiming negative labels can unite people rather than split them apart. Hopefully, more of this kind of action will allow people to see that regardless of your identity, anyone who immigrates to another country shares more similarities than differences and that labels shouldnt limit or define anyone in what they want to achieve.

Nicole Chui is an embroidery artist and designer based in London. You can find out more about her work and reach out to her on Instagram + Twitter at @thatsewnicole

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How the language of migration put expats on a pedestal and left immigrants in the dust - The Independent

There are fears traffickers behind a rise in recent arrivals will attempt to use the warm weekend weather to launch a series of further illegal crossings.Border Force patrols intercepted small boats in the Channel on five consecutive days last week with 130 brought into Dover. Last Tuesday 63 migrants crammed in four small dinghies were stopped. This followed 56 who arrived on the previous Saturday, April 4. The total rescued this year now stands at more than 630.

Immigration Minister Chris Philp said: Coronavirus has not had an impact on our ability to respond to Channel crossings and Border Force and Immigration Enforcement will always be given the resources they need to do their jobs.

We must be absolutely clear: these crossings are facilitated by dangerous, malicious, criminals, taking advantage of the desperate situations that many people find themselves in. They do not care about the safety of the people they traffic.

Our mission remains the preservation of life but we must also deter these crossings and return those who make this dangerous journey.

The coronavirus crisis that has swept across Europe has had little effect on the number of illegal camps in northern France from where migrants are preyed on by smuggling gangmasters. The majority are Iranian, Iraqi and Libyan nationals.

There are concerns that some of those living in migrant camps in France have been infected with the deadly virus and could potentially spread the disease with contact from border and immigration officials when they arrive at Dovers Western Docks.

NatalieElphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, said: "Every illegal entrant must be immediately returned to France. If they are not returned, they must immediately be quarantined to protect public health.

"It is essential that we put a stop to this appalling trafficking trade and protect vulnerable people from making these dangerous crossings.

We already have territorial agreements for border controls and these should be extended. Its in Frances interest too because they dont want Calais to become a migrant magnet again.

Today the Daily Express can reveal French police have stopped more than 100 migrants risking their lives by attempting to reach the UK in a small boat in the past three weeks.

Despite the closure of the notorious Calais Jungle camp in 2016 - which was once home to around 10,000 migrants - smaller encampments still exist.

Since January 2019 Immigration Enforcement has convicted and imprisoned 111 people smugglers and more than 155 people who arrived here on small boats have been returned.

The Home Office said that during the same period 879 incidents of trafficking-related organised immigration crime had been disrupted.

Mr Philp said: My message to the criminals, who may be hoping that this pandemic means we will not take action, is that you cannot be further from the truth.

We wont let the gangs smuggling vulnerable people into the UK, get away with it. We will enforce the law. We will seek justice. And we will always seek the return of anyone in the country illegally.

Gangs facilitating illegal crossings of the Channel are criminals.

Even in the uncertain times that we are living in as we fight to stop the spread of coronavirus keeping our border secure from dangerous criminals looking to exploit it, is my highest priority.

My message to the criminals, who may be hoping that this pandemic means we will not take action, is that you cannot be further from the truth.

We wont let the gangs smuggling vulnerable people into the UK, get away with it.

We will enforce the law. We will seek justice.

And we will always seek the return of anyone in the country illegally.

Coronavirus has not had an impact on our ability to respond to Channel crossings and Border Force and Immigration Enforcement will always be given the resources they need to do their jobs.

Because we must be absolutely clear. These crossings are facilitated by dangerous, malicious, criminals, taking advantage of the desperate situations that many people find themselves in. They do not care about the safety of the people they traffic.

Our mission remains the preservation of life but we must also deter these crossings and return those who make this dangerous journey.

That is why we are working closely with partners in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Home Secretary and her French counterpart, Christophe Castaner, have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling this issue since the outbreak of coronavirus.

And in the last three weeks French police have stopped over 100 migrants from risking their lives by seeking to get to the UK using a small boat.

We are working around the clock with the National Crime Agency and French law enforcement agencies to arrest and dismantle the organised crime gangs who facilitate these crossings.

This approach is working. Since January 2019, Immigration Enforcement has convicted and imprisoned 111 people smugglers and over 155 people who arrived on small boats have been returned. In the same period, we have disrupted 879 occasions of organised immigration crime.

And thats not all, there are now extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment to stop small boats leaving European shores.

Id like to pay tribute to the work of our Border Force and Immigration Enforcement workers who are doing a fantastic job on the frontline in these uncertain times.

It is not an easy job and while there is much uncertainty around the country, they have gone about their work with professionalism and diligence.

We will continue to strictly follow Public Health Englands guidance and will make sure that they have the support and relevant Personal Protective Equipment available to them.

And to those criminals exploiting peoples desperate situations, we will not rest in our efforts to stop you and bring you to justice.

Chris Philp is Minister for Immigration Compliance and Courts

See the rest here:
Gangs using coronavirus crisis to send migrants to UK as 130 brought to Dover in week - Express.co.uk

We hear that the COVID-19 does not discriminatebut the context in which it spreads does. Pictured: Syrian refugee women in a cash-for-work tailoring program in the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan, October 2018. (UN Women / Christopher Herwig)

As COVID-19 sweeps around the globe, much of the worlds focus is on how leaders of the wealthiest nations are scrambling to respond to the pandemic.

Far less attention is being paid to those with the fewest resources necessary to defend themselves: the worlds 70 million people forcibly displaced by conflict or crisis, more than half of whom are women and girls.

Refugees and internally displaced personsthe latter of whom number more than 41 million worldwideoften face restrictions based on their displacement status, and generally live in countries with weak health systems.

Health services, including mental health care, for refugees and migrants are generally scarce. Sexual and reproductive health servicesdespite constituting lifesaving care for refugee women and girlsis often the first on the chopping block in an emergency, leaving women at risk of increased maternal mortality and morbidity, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy.

According to one estimate, 9.5 million women could lose access to contraception and safe abortion because of the COVID-19 crisiswhich will lead to women and girls dying from entirely preventable causes.

In addition, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is particularly acute for refugees. Physical distancing is a privilege that most migrant and refugee women and girls dont enjoy.

In Greece, for example, organizations like the Womens Refugee Commission and Women Refugee Route have long warned of the overcrowded and dangerous conditions in camps, which put people at risk. Without urgent decongestion measures by Greece and other European governments, the camps will be a death trap for the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

Nobody can feel safe in the camps right now, said Maryam Janikhuskh, former representative of the Afghan community in the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and the first woman to hold this position. There is no basic hygiene, no water, nothing.

Janikhuskh named health and security risks, including rape and other forms of violence, as the main issuesbut said no one is there to help.

Another problem, Janikhuskh said, is food distribution, as people come together three times a day without any protection. She is one of the few helpers remaining; once again, community leaders and grassroots organizations are picking up the pieces when governments shrug off any responsibility.

If past crises have taught us anything, it is that small, community-based organizations led by women, youth or persons with disabilities are often the first responders.

Here atMs., our team is continuing to report throughthis global health crisisdoing what we can to keep you informed andup-to-date on some of the most underreported issues of thispandemic.Weask that you consider supporting our work to bring you substantive, uniquereportingwe cant do it without you. Support our independent reporting and truth-telling for as little as $5 per month.

Whether its disseminating information in the community or providing direct servicesgiven their crucial role in protection and increased calls for localization of aidit is imperative that these organizations be included in decision-making and benefit from COVID-19 emergency funding. They are on the front lines in response, hold trust, and know best what is needed and where.

Organizations like ours were founded based on our experience that responses are most efficient if they are inclusive of those most affected. Ensuring that the humanitarian response to COVID-19 is age, gender and disability sensitiveand takes into account the displacement status of the individual and other diversity factorsis crucial to keeping everyone safe.

Here are four key steps that global leaders and the humanitarian community can take:

Small organizations led by refugee women and LGBTQI individualsincluding organizations providing safe housing, organizations of persons with disabilities or those fighting for racial and climate justicehave suffered from chronic underfunding for decades. Some are at risk of disappearing over the coming weeks.

Now is the time to support them.

This includes those with physical, intellectual, psychosocial and sensory disabilities.

A devastating consequence of lock-downs is the rise of gender-based violence in confined spaces. Womens shelters must be accessible to women and girls with disabilitieswho can experience disproportionately high levels of emotional, physical and sexual abuseand to women and girls without residence permits.

Segregating data by age, gender and disability will make sure no one falls through the cracks.

Women, many of them migrant women, make up 70 percent of health workersyet men dominate the scientific discussion on COVID-19 and emergency task forces assembled by governments. Decision-makers should be as diverse as the populations they serve, and racial and ethnic biaswhich remains pervasive in health care servicesmust be urgently addressed.

Human Rights Watch recently documented the case of a trans woman in Panama, a volunteer health worker, who was detained and fined by police based on gender-based restrictions, alleging that she was male and out on the wrong day. Movement restrictions canalso add to police violence and job insecurity for those already facing racial injustice and xenophobia.

We hear that the COVID-19 does not discriminate, but the context in which it spreads does.

Emergency responses that exclude those most affected risk exacerbating structural inequalities. We can only win this fight against the virus if we truly are all in this together.

The coronavirus pandemic and the response by federal, state and local authorities is fast-moving.During this time,Ms. is keeping a focus on aspects of the crisisespecially as it impacts women and their familiesoften not reported by mainstream media.If you found this article helpful,please consider supporting our independent reporting and truth-telling for as little as $5 per month.

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We Cannot Abandon Migrant and Refugee Women During the COVID-19 Crisis - Ms. Magazine

The only certainty is uncertainty, Pliny the Elder reportedly said. Though all historicaltimes are full of uncertainties, some seem more so than others. This is one of those times.

A major slowdown of the Indian economy was brewing and completely spilled over when I got toIndia in September 2019 to start my dissertation fieldwork on Indian women construction workers experiences and conceptualizations of Human Security. Wages stagnated. Consumer spending fell. Construction, real estate, and other industries were sent reeling. Construction workers livelihoods were teetering on the brink. Uncertainty became the backbone of their existence.

Then the country was rocked by the central governments continuous assaults on MuslimIndians. After the Citizen Amendment Bill was passed, poor Indians (of any religious background) who often do not have much documentation attesting to their existence could no longer rely on being considered citizens.More than 60 percent of low-income Indians are born at home. So they have no birth certificate. Without proof of citizenship, people could be put in one of the detention centers being built by the Indian government or deported outright.

While the signs were accumulating that India was on the path to coronavirus crisis, construction work still continued. Because construction workers labor in close proximity with one another, social distancing is impossible on work sites. Most construction workers often lack even simple safety gear. They have no masks, no hand washing stations, and no sanitizer.

And then coronavirus hit. The entire country ground to a sudden, complete halt.

The 21-day lockdown was instituted in Mumbai first. Everything, except essential services, ceased. The lockdown happened so quickly, with just four hours warning, that many construction workersmost of whom are migrants from rural parts of Maharashtra or other statesgot stranded in Mumbai. Because virtually all transportation was shut down (both within India, as well as to and from India), and Maharashtra had closed interstate borders, the workers could not get back to their villages.

Right next door to me here in Mumbai, one of the buildings in our compound was being renovated. Yet the work did not cease until the lockdown made it absolutely impossible for workers to continue. Now the workers are stuck here, living in the gutted building. Their employer is paying them enough money to get basic food supplies, but not their wages to which they are entitled by Maharashtra law. Those who support families back in their villages are unable to support them now.

When the nationwide lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Modi, what happened to the men working next door was mirrored across the country. Even worse, a migrant crisis took shape. Thousands upon thousands of migrant workers in other states started fleeing for homeno matter how far away. Since there was almost no transport, many opted to walk hundreds of kilometers to get home. Government officials sent contradictory messages. Some organized buses for migrants. Others told migrant workers to stay in place. The migrants who did get on buses were literally stuffed into them and piled onto roofs.

The government efforts to control the pandemic led to a humanitarian crisis as migrants tried to return home, often by foot. People are getting sick and dying along the way. Some struggle with hunger. Meanwhile the virus is spreading because of the close proximity of the people in this mass exodus. Even if they do reach their villages, they may be turned away or forced to self-quarantine under trees outside the village. This chaos is a result of not only the coronavirus, but also the government response to it. This migrant crisis is an epic failure of governance.

The government seems so haphazard, so surprised by crisis upon crisis. But how is that possible? Some 450 million internal migrants live in India, according to the 2011 census. Most of Indias workforce (92 percent) is informal, including our domestic servants, our construction workers, our vegetable vendors. And many of these informal laborers are internal migrants.

How could the central government be surprised by whats going on with 450 million people? Thats 35 percent of the population. These are not fringe elements of society or some small underground, shadow economy. The informal economy, fueled largely by migrant laborers, is Indias economy.

As the migrants scramble to outrun their own starvation and the coronavirus, state and central governments are scrambling to put in place provisions to rescue them or imprison them. Its mostly the latter. As this Indian Express editorialist writes: Governments converted highways to shelters and issued orders to turn stadia into temporary jails, at a time when other countries are turning them into hospitals.

The government distributed additional rations of rice and pulses, and some cash for a small share of Indias vast population of poor people. This cash hand-out, at 500 INR per month, is low. Let me put this in perspective: Most women construction workers I have interviewed make about 400 INR per day, which equals US$5.27. They still can barely afford basic living expenses. I cant even buy two cups of chai at Chaayos, a popular chain cafe, for the amount these women workers make in one day. And as a commentator in The Hindu newspaper wrote: The rest of the package can be described in many ways, the most polite of which would be to call it disappointingly inadequate.

The prime minister has started a PM-CARES relief fund. As usual, Modi is leaning on individuals to do what the government is supposed to do. It is yet to be seen how effective the fund will be in protecting internal migrants from even more hazards. From this vantage point, it looks grim.

The coronavirus crisis makes extremely uncertain lives in Indias economy even more uncertain. This insecurity is significant, but the construction workers with whom I have been speaking for many months now live with it. How they rise from the rubble of this pandemic is yet to be seen, but if what I have seen of their tenacity thus far is any indication, they will rise in some way.

Chantal Krcmar is a PhD candidate in the Department of Global Governance, Human Security and Conflict Resolution at the University of MassachusettsBoston. She lives in Mumbai, India.

Sources: BBC, Economic Times, India Today, Indian Express, International Labour Organization, LiveMint, The Atlantic, The Hindu, The New Yorker, The Wire.

Photo credit:Sanjoy Karmakar/Shutterstock.com

See the original post here:
Migrant Workers in India: Insecurity in the Time of Coronavirus - New Security Beat