Writing a Story for the World: Tracing India’s Response to Migration and Reverse Migration During the Pandemic

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 has impacted almost all sections of the society. Its effect has been greatly reflected on human mobility thereby rendering the international migrant community in a state of despair. The imposition of travel restriction and sealing of international borders by almost all countries around the globe have resulted in a large number of these migrants being stranded abroad in a state of economic recession with no means to return to their home countries. Against such a backdrop, it becomes pertinent for us to study the challenges faced by them, the assistance offered to them by the governments and their socio-legal consequences. The pandemic unraveled multiple social fissures which exposed the hollow claims of equality and equal protection of low envisaged upon each citizen by the Indian Constitution. This article aims to analyze the ostensible and systematic ignorance of both the legislature and the judiciary towards ensuring basic-necessities of the international migrant community, thereby unearthing the naked discrimination served towards them.