Post Graduate Department of Business Administration, St. Aloysius College , Mangalore, India.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) , Mumbai, India.
Soc Work Public Health. 2020 Sep 1;35(7):633-643. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2020.1808552.
The social and economic crisis induced by Covid-19 in low- and middle-income countries could be long, deep, and pervasive, especially when viewed through the lens of migrant workers. Migrant workers in India tend to live and work in megacities in crowded conditions that do not permit social distancing, putting them at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Migrant workers here face challenges accessing health care even in normal circumstances due to lack of health insurance, cost, administrative hurdles, lack of public health infrastructure, and lack of access to these facilities. The sudden lockdown due to Covid left lakhs of migrant workers in India stranded and on the road, having lost jobs and being left without income, food, and accommodation. Lakhs attempted to travel back home on foot only to be shuttled into shelters and relief camps hastily cobbled up as a last-minute response to the migrant crisis. This article analyzes the specific ways in which Indian migrant workers have been affected by the pandemic and examines the response of the government and its impact in mitigating and addressing the crisis. By doing so, it aims to provide insights for more comprehensive, inclusive, and effective migrant policies and operations involving multiple stakeholders at all levels.
由新冠疫情在中低收入国家引发的社会和经济危机可能是长期、深刻和普遍的，尤其是从移民工人的角度来看。印度的移民工人往往在人口密集、不允许保持社交距离的特大城市生活和工作，这使他们面临更高的患病风险。即使在正常情况下，由于缺乏医疗保险、费用、行政障碍、公共卫生基础设施不足以及无法获得这些设施，移民工人也面临着获得医疗保健的挑战。由于新冠疫情的突然封锁，印度数以百万计的移民工人被困在路上，失去了工作，没有收入、食物和住所。数以百万计的人试图步行回家，结果却被送往临时搭建的收容所和救济营地，这是对移民危机的最后一刻反应。本文分析了印度移民工人受疫情影响的具体方式，并考察了政府的应对措施及其在减轻和应对危机方面的影响。通过这样做，它旨在为更全面、包容和有效的移民政策和涉及各级多方利益相关者的行动提供见解。
