COVID-19 - Livelihood of Migrant Workers at Stake in Kolkata

Research Problem and Objective of the study: This study aims to provide in-depth and enriched evidence regarding the various problem and hardships faced by the migrant workers during COVID-19. The sudden imposition of lockdown caused due to pandemic has led to modification in their lifestyle and living conditions which has been witnessed among the migrant workers. For instance, changes in the livelihood capacities of migrant workers concerning their skills and strategies to deal with psychological, economic, and physical distress which aroused due to the COVID-19 pandemic is the main concern to be analysed. Methods: This paper explores migrant workers situation during COVID-19 by the lived experience of the migrant workers. The researchers collected migrant workers experience in their own version by the in-depth face to face interview. Research has been conducted on migrant workers residing in the localities of South West Kolkata. Convenient sampling has been adopted with a sample size of 50. Participants mainly belong to Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The use of qualitative insights based on interactions with workers helps to understand multiple, non-exhaustive, dimensions of vulnerability to which migrant workers were exposed. Findings: The government has played a strategic role through policy imperative to help the migrant worker during COVID-19 condition. Due to lack of awareness among the migrant workers related to the policy is the main reason of hindrance to access all the benefits through various schemes and polices. Recommendations: The study underlines urgent spread of awareness among the migrant workers related to several policy and schemes which is required to address the impoverishment they are experiencing and to uplift their condition. So various kinds of mechanism need to be adopted like the use of mass media, active participation from the NGO aside, etc. information may be reached through a range of different means or tools such as radio, television, video, film, the internet, social media, mobile phones, newspapers, newsletters, leaflets, poster campaigns and various slogans