The Challenges of Migrant Labor in Developing India.

Purpose: Every educated Indian knew about the migrant labor problem - but it reached crisis point with the advent of COVID-19 and especially with the imposition of lockdowns across the country. The plight of migrant workers and their families reaching us through TV and newspapers on a daily basis moved me to learn more about this challenge and if possible, provide some solutions. Methodology: The methodology adapted for this study is mainly qualitative in nature. Most of the information/data has been collated from secondary data sources. The rest of the article is written from the backdrop of ground workers and experts in this area - some of them has been grappling through this big challenge for over decades. Results: India is talking about a demographic dividend where more than 50% of its population is less than 25 years of age. So, India has a workforce which is relatively young and hence the economy is upbeat about its growth potential. However, the ground realities are not quite so promising. Almost 90% of the total workforce of India is in the unorganized sector and they have no protection from any quarters – so much so, that they are often referred to as invisible. These workers are mostly migrants from the rural sector to the urban centers and many of them are seasonal in nature. India is talking about a demographic dividend where more than 50% of its population is less than 25 years of age. So, India has a workforce which is relatively young and hence the economy is upbeat about its growth potential. However, the ground realities are not quite so promising. Almost 90% of the total workforce of India is in the unorganized sector and they have no protection from any quarters – so much so, that they are often referred to as invisible. These workers are mostly migrants from the rural sector to the urban centers and many of them are seasonal in nature. Research limitations: So, governmental regulations have to be put in place to protect them on one side, and proper skilling should be done to upgrade them from their current jobs which are mostly hazardous in nature. Industry also has to be encouraged to automate the hazardous and repetitive tasks in their jobs and simultaneously to adapt to 4G technology as early as possible. Another important step to be taken is to build in rapid urbanization in the growth story of India. It is estimated that the top 100 cities of India are easily capable of absorbing the migrant workers and create a win-win situation. The economy of the country will also benefit and the migrant workforce, including their families, will also settle down to a life of relative security and prosperity. There is also a need to talk to the migrant workers and their families. Detailed discussions with them across the length and breadth of the country will give us more insights into the nature and magnitude of the problem that the country faces. This is important because these workers may not be a homogeneous mass – rather, there may be sub-groups which require different solutions depending on the state or the region they come from. Originality: The issue in India is newly rediscovered. Till this time, it was under the surface. Now it has come to the forefront of the national discourse and hence this article is very relevant at this point in time. The suggestions given are of high value and needs to be implemented on a war footing in order to avoid a disaster in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]