Changes in Migration Patterns amid COVID-19: Longitudinal Evidence from the Middle Ganga Plain, India

Author(s)	Mr. Manoj Paul, Prof. Dr. Archana Roy, Sourav Mandal
Country	India
Abstract	The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted labour migration in India, forcing millions of migrants to return. Although earlier studies examined the immediate impacts, long-term effects remain unexplored. Using follow-up data from 1,065 households in 16 villages (2018/19–2023/24), this study analyses changes in migration patterns from the pre- and post-pandemic periods. The study highlights a significant increase in migration propensity, especially among internal migration after COVID-19, after reshaping its structure at the household level. The propensity of international and seasonal migration dropped significantly while migration among landholders increased. About 29% of non-migrant and return migrant households started migration, reflecting significant economic constraints amid COVID-19 and younger household members taking the lead in migration over returnees. Labour migration is a critical livelihood strategy for rural Indians; thus, the government should promote rural employment opportunities and a structured migration process in terms of accommodation and better working and living conditions.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-19
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.66634

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International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research