Survival of Migrants in a Crisis: Distress of Migrants left behind during COVID-19 Lockdown in Pune

The COVID-19 pandemic created havoc resulting in a nationwide 21-days lockdown announced on March 24th, 2020. The lockdown was later extended three times till May 31. The lockdown stirred the worlds of migrants across the nation and uprooted migrant families in the unorganized sector in India due to unemployment, hunger, and starvation. The crisis among migrant labourers and their families who tried to flee by all available means has predominantly been in the spotlight, but the migrants who were left behind in the cities were ignored by the news media. The resident migrants also faced similar levels of unemployment, physical, financial, and psychological distress. The following report systematically uncovers the multiple dimensions of distress among the short and long term migrant workers in Pune during the lockdown period. The report is founded on a primary survey of migrant workers conducted between May and July 2020, an in-depth analysis of secondary data from Census 2011, and carefully selected articles published in news media, journals, and reports on migrant crisis. The report entails an analysis of the profile of intra- and inter-state migrants to Pune; wherein the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the livelihood of short and long term resident migrants of Pune was assessed. The report also provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of distress indicators such as lack of savings, expenditure cutbacks, access to ration, food aid, and accommodation. Further a fine-grained qualitative analysis of the psychological distress such as feelings of anxiety, stress, and worthlessness during the lockdown period further adds value in assessing the impact on migrant workers. The report presents various dimensions of inadequacy of government response and relief measures during the migrant crisis. This analysis highlights the challenges migrants faced due to lack of identity and recognition as de jure residents of the city, battling with access to government welfare schemes and services such as PDS, LPG, and public housing. The report concludes with some pertinent recommendations on addressing the gaps proposing a scheme for guaranteeing livelihood for the urban poor.