ABSTRACT
Migrants are subjects that are often left out in the policy discourse, even though India has one of the largest floating populations in the world. At times when the migrant communities are facing scornful events at different quarters of their lives, the State of Kerala has addressed similar concerns through policy deliberations framed with the utmost care and importance, thus emerging as the pro-migrant State in the country. The article incorporates a discussion on the various policy initiatives adopted by the State machinery for the welfare and betterment of inter-state migrant workers employed in the State. Expanding the scope, the study deals with the different policy interventions adopted by the State machinery to address the vulnerabilities of in-migrants which emerged during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An evaluation of the State's existing migrant related policy framework points to the extent of its effectiveness in sensitising and improving the lives of inter-state migrants. Through these efforts, the Government of Kerala sends a strong message on the inevitability of having an inclusive and unified approach in identifying and addressing the needs of the migrant community by transcending the trivial human-made distinctions while keeping human beings and humanity at the centre of all actions.