International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a massive wave of reverse migration in India, marking one of the most significant human migrations in the country's recent history. As lockdowns were imposed to curb the spread of the virus, millions of migrant workers, who form the backbone of India's urban informal economy, lost their jobs and were compelled to return to their rural homes. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the scale, impact, and challenges of reverse migration during the COVID-19 crisis, utilizing secondary data from government reports, surveys, and studies. The research highlights that approximately 10 million migrant workers undertook perilous journeys back to their native states, with Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal receiving the highest number of returnees. The study examines the factors driving this mass migration, including economic shutdowns, job losses, lack of social safety nets, poor living conditions, and inadequate access to healthcare. It also discusses the significant implications of this migration on both urban and rural economies, such as labor shortages in cities and increased pressure on rural resources and employment schemes like MGNREGA. Moreover, the study explores the diverse challenges faced by returning migrants, including unemployment, food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and social stigmatization. It also evaluates the response of state and central governments in addressing these challenges, assessing the effectiveness of various policy measures and welfare programs implemented during the crisis. The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for comprehensive policy interventions to address the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, enhance rural infrastructure, and strengthen social safety nets. The research concludes by recommending strategies for better socio-economic integration of migrants and resilience-building in rural communities to mitigate the long-term impacts of such crises.