March 25, 2025 will mark five years since India imposed a nationwide lockdown, announced at a four-hour notice, to control the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. While the national lockdown lasted 68 days, it was followed by several smaller lockdowns by state governments.

The lockdown triggered a massive exodus of people - agricultural labourers, factory workers, street vendors - men, women and children who had migrated from their villages to find better jobs across Indian cities.

In A Pandemic’s Epilogue, our reporters and experts trace the journey of these migrant workers since the pandemic to find out where they are now, what they are doing, the new opportunities they have found and the struggles that persist. Through a series of stories, we bring you the present realities of millions of Indians who lost jobs and walked home, burdened by the tag of being called 'disease carriers'.

With this special project, we aim to keep the spotlight firmly on this vast population of Indians who suffered the worst impact of the pandemic.

And above all, to tell the workers and their families that we have not forgotten.