Investigating Reverse Migration during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences from India

This book investigates the critical phenomenon of reverse migration during the COVID-19 pandemic in India, revealing the lived experiences of reverse migrant workers amid unprecedented social and economic upheaval. Through a comprehensive study rooted in the context of India’s nationwide lockdown, it traces the culture of reverse migration, explores crisis-induced vulnerabilities, and envisions inclusive, empathetic, and transformative policy pathways. Spanning through compelling and insightfully articulated chapters, the volume journeys from conceptual explorations of reverse migration to grounded fieldwork shaped by returnees’ anguish, adaptation, and resilience. It uncovers the challenges faced by returning migrants—unemployment, food insecurity, and social marginalisation—and critically evaluates government responses and support systems. The final chapter presents a forward-looking policy framework for sustainable migrant reintegration and economic empowerment. Blending scholarly insight with poignant human narratives, this book is an indispensable resource for researchers, policymakers, and readers seeking to understand reverse migration, crisis resilience, and post-pandemic recovery in India.

Aditya Keshari Mishra teaches Sociology at the Central University of Odisha, India. His research explores development, environmental sustainability, rural and urban studies, health and illness, and civil society. He has authored several books and scholarly articles, contributing significantly to contemporary sociological enquiry and interdisciplinary academic scholarship in India.