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THEME PAPER

A ‘MAINSTREAMING’ APPROACH TO UPLIFTING

MIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS

MS. MUKTA NAIK The Covid 19 migrant crisis INTRODUCTION
could be seen as a watershed In 2020, the large-scale
moment for policy in the realm migrant exodus from urban
of internal migration. Despite centres to the refuge of their
the lack of an omnibus migration rural homes in the wake of the
policy, several disparate policy Covid19 national lockdown
initiatives emerged at multiple was a unique administrative
levels of government, across challenge for the Indian states.
various sectors leveraging multi- The crisis highlighted several
stakeholder collaborations. To lacunae in the way interstate
stitch these responses together migrants were treated in
“Most importantly, into a more coherent inclusionary destination states as compared
to their source states; whereas
mainstreaming involves policy framework for migrants, the latter saw them as
policy actors need to recognise
embedding migration the importance of migrants and citizens, the former regarded
into mainstream policies, their agency on the one hand, them as workers. While
institutions and structures. while seeking to redress their questions over citizenship
This entails a broad-based vulnerabilities. Based on a brief and inclusion are commonly
approach rather than an analysis of policy responses to raised in the context of
issue-specific one.” the migrant crisis in India, this international migration, the
paper suggests that migration persistent vulnerabilities of
internal migrants, who are
policy in India has already taken Constitutionally guaranteed
the initial steps towards adopting freedom of movement
a ‘mainstreaming’ approach. and residence anywhere
Taking this momentum within India, require closer
further through an enhanced examination.
understanding of migration
processes, reflexive policy design, For much of human existence,
an iterative approach towards disasters have served as
intervention and a systematic turning points, fostering
Key Words: Migrants, mainstreaming, embedding of migration into innovations in technology,
vulnerability, Portability, housing, mainstream policies, institutions policy and politics. Can we
registration and tracking. hope that, in the years to come,
and structures, India can
Ms. Mukta Naik (mukta@cprindia.org) contribute significantly towards India’s Covid19 migrant
is Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, fulfilling the SDGs and the crisis will also likely be seen
New Delhi. ‘Leave No One Behind’ agenda. as a watershed moment for

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