The recent 'Lockdown period,' particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposed and exacerbated severe problems and challenges faced by migrant labourers, especially in countries like India. A primary issue was the sudden and complete loss of livelihood. With businesses shutting down overnight, millions of daily wage earners, who often lacked formal contracts or social security, found themselves jobless and without any income. This led to immediate financial distress, making it impossible for them to afford food, rent, or send money home.

This economic shock triggered a massive reverse migration. With no work and no support in urban centers, migrant labourers were forced to undertake arduous journeys, often on foot, for hundreds or thousands of kilometers, to return to their native villages. This mass exodus was fraught with challenges: lack of transportation, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and exposure to the virus. Many faced police brutality, social stigma, and discrimination upon reaching their villages, being seen as potential carriers of the disease.

Furthermore, they faced severe food insecurity due to disrupted supply chains and lack of access to public distribution systems, as their ration cards were often tied to their home states. Healthcare access was also a major challenge; many fell ill during their journeys or in overcrowded relief camps, with limited medical facilities available. The psychological toll of uncertainty, fear, separation from families, and the sheer physical hardship was immense. The lockdown highlighted the systemic vulnerabilities of this informal workforce, including the absence of adequate social safety nets, portable welfare benefits, and robust labor protections, leaving them highly susceptible to crises.