A migrant worker is a person who either migrates within their home country or outside it to pursue work. Migrant workers usually do not have the intention to stay permanently in the country or region in which they work.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migrant_worker

Almost every news media, politicians, intellects are talking about this on every possible forum and opportunity. Social media is flooded with genuine and fake videos, messages on the subject. Unfortunately, the reference to the Migrant Worker is being made with a sense of “sympathy” and “laborers.”

Government and political parties are busy counting the migrant workers and their plight. A few realities related to the term Migrant Workers

1. We are missing that “migrant workers” exist across all levels. One would find people from other states in most of the organizations across the levels – from security guards to CEO.
2. All NRIs are “migrant workers.”
3. We often think NRIs as only those who are rich and flooded with dollars. It is not difficult to find “NRI” staying in shared dormitories and bunker beds. Many cannot even afford to come back. Their condition is worse than the migrant workers in India.

It would be foolhardy to assume that all migrant workers want to go back. The ones who are settled and have no fear in the place of their stay do not rush back to their native. In my view, we are not addressing something more fundamental.

1. Why did people “migrate” in the first place? The absence of livelihood and opportunities in the native state is the primary and biggest driver. The money in a distant location is secondary.
2. What are the governments, society, and political leaders doing to create and develop livelihood and opportunity, beyond free doles? In my view Nothing beyond Lip Services
3. What are the undercurrents that are running amongst the migrant workers? These undercurrents could well be nurtured by the vested local political interest.

The fallout of this chaos is going to be worse than COVID 19. Most industries and business organizations have skilled and unskilled people from other states only. The people working in last-mile delivery processes cannot do so as WFH. Without resources, the economic engine will not start.