The Covid-induced disruption exposed the deep systemic inadequacies in dealing with India’s internal migration. In particular, the ability of state governments to take care of them.

The first question in this regard is about the financial capacity of state governments – both home and destination states – to deal with the disruption. Home states have not only lost out on the remittances but also have to take care of more people and worry about their employment and well being. Destination states have lost their critical workforce, one that made them the bustling economies they were.

Beyond the question of state finances is the spectre of growing nativism as witnessed in Haryana’s recent law reserving jobs for locals in the private sector. If more states follow suit, would it not ruin the case for free and easy migration across India? Would it not adversely impact a private sector led-economic recovery in India?

Lastly, separate from the worry about inter-state migration, which is a very small proportion of overall internal migration, is the question of intra-state migration. Are states, be it UP or Gujarat or Kerala, taking care of those who migrate within their own borders?