Migration in India: status, prospects and Challenge
Kartavya Desk Staff
#### GS Paper 1
Syllabus: Geography/ Indian Society
Source: BS
Context: Migration is a crucial aspect of economic diplomacy, particularly in Asia where India’s growth is expected to lead global expansion. This growth will drive significant migration to cities, necessitating a focus on urban development.
About Migration in India:
Topic | Description
About Migration | The International Organization for Migration defines a migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his/her habitual place of residence.
Factors Determining Migration | Migration can be either voluntary or forced movements as a consequence of the increased magnitude or frequency of disasters, economic challenges, extreme poverty, or conflict situations.
Push Factors | Push factors compel a person to leave their place of origin (out-migration) and migrate to another place. These factors can include economic reasons, social reasons, Pandemics and lack of development in a particular place.
Pull Factors | Pull factors attract migrants (in-migration) to a destination area. These factors can include job opportunities, better living conditions, and the availability of basic or high-level facilities.
Migration – 2011 Census | Number of internal migrants (both inter-state and within state) in India: over 45 crores (37% of the country’s population)
Migration – Economic Survey 2016-17 | Relatively less developed states (e.g., Bihar and Uttar Pradesh): High net out-migration
Relatively more developed states (e.g., Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka): Reflect net immigration
Largest recipient region: Delhi (accounted for more than half of migration in 2015-16); Uttar Pradesh and Bihar combined: Account for half of the total out-migrants
Migration in India Report 2020-21 | Female migration is more than male migration. Reasons for female migration: Marriage Reasons for male migration: Search for employment
Migration and its Impacts on Cities | According to a report by the World Economic Forum, smaller cities are rapidly growing but struggling to cope with infrastructure demands due to declining civic revenue resources.
2024 World Migration Report | India hosts the largest population of international migrants worldwide, totalling 18 million, predominantly in countries like the UAE, USA, and Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, in 2022, India emerged as the foremost recipient of remittances, surpassing the significant milestone of receiving over USD 111 billion, indicative of its substantial role in the global migrant workforce and economy.
Reasons for male migration: Search for employment
Circular Migration in India:
In India, internal migration has often been circular, particularly from rural to urban areas, driven by industrialization and job opportunities in the manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. Inter-state migration is prevalent, with states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar experiencing high out-migration rates. Circular migrants benefit from better-paying jobs, remittances, and improved household welfare. However, they may face challenges, such as exploitation, language barriers, and seasonal job insecurity.
Reasons for Migration to Smaller Cities in the IT/ITeS Sector:
Reasons | Example
Remote and hybrid work models | Companies like Cognizant allowed employees to work from anywhere (during the pandemic), leading to a shift away from major cities.
Companies can establish satellite offices in smaller cities, supporting remote and hybrid work models.
Cost savings | Moving to smaller cities allows companies to reduce real estate costs and invest more in people and R&D.
Employees can save more in terms of rental costs and experience social benefits in smaller towns.
Rich talent pool | Smaller cities have untapped talent with a potential talent drain to larger metros, providing opportunities.
Higher retention rates | Employees prefer to stay in their hometowns, leading to higher retention rates in smaller cities.
Availability of office space and amenities | Smaller cities like Coimbatore offer quality office spaces with amenities at lower costs compared to metros.
Rise of co-working spaces in smaller cities | Co-working spaces provide access to high-quality office space at a fraction of the cost in larger cities.
Counter-magnet dynamics | Surat and Pune have started acting as a counter-magnet region to Mumbai and attract migrants from the neighbouring districts of Maharashtra
Impact of Migration:
Positive:
• Economic Growth: Fills labour gaps, boosts productivity, and generates remittances.
• Social Impact: Spreads ideas, enriches culture, and improves quality of life.
• Innovation: Introduces new skills and technologies, fostering entrepreneurship.
• Labour Market Flexibility: Balances supply and demand, especially in skilled sectors.
Negative:
• Demographic Impact: Contributes to urban growth, affecting rural areas and agriculture.
• Environmental Impact: Strains infrastructure, leading to unplanned urban growth and pollution.
• Social Tensions: Creates competition for resources, housing, and services, fostering cultural clashes and family disruption.
Challenges of Migration in India:
• Inadequate Social Security: Lack of access to healthcare and safety standards exposes migrants to unsafe conditions.
• Limited Benefit Portability: Difficulty accessing state-provided benefits like food supplies through PDS due to residency requirements.
• Housing and Amenities: Migrants struggle to find affordable housing and basic facilities in urban areas.
• Exploitation: Migrants face exploitation, wage theft, and discrimination in the labour market.
• Discrimination: Instances of violence and discrimination against migrants, notably in Maharashtra in 2008.
Government Initiatives on Migration:
• Draft National Migrant Labour Policy: Prepared by NITI Aayog, emphasizes collective action for better migrant conditions.
• One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Expanded project for migrant welfare.
• Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) and PM Garib Kalyan Yojna: Introduced to provide housing solutions.
• e-Shram Portal: Launched to enhance migrant status and facilitate better access to benefits.
• Code on Social Security: Provides insurance and provident fund benefits for inter-state migrant workers.
International Migration and Global Action:
• United Nations General Assembly: Convened high-level meetings to address refugee and migrant movements.
• New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants: Commitment to protect the safety, dignity, and human rights of migrants.
• Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration: Adopted to ensure safe and regulated migration.
• International Migrants Day: Celebrated annually on December 8th.
The way forward and Conclusion:
To tackle the challenges of migration, comprehensive measures need to be implemented. Firstly, there should be a focus on providing basic amenities and social security measures to migrants, regardless of their migration status. Integration and inclusion of migrants into society are crucial to fostering social cohesion and minimizing discrimination. Investing in rural skill development and job creation can reduce the necessity for migration by enhancing employability. Governments should also develop counter-magnet cities by investing in infrastructure and amenities to promote balanced regional development and alleviate pressure on major urban hubs. National surveys must gather more information on the socio-economic conditions of migrants post-migration, as current data is lacking.
Furthermore, labour market policies must safeguard the rights of migrant workers, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social security benefits through strict enforcement of labour laws.
Additionally, there is a dearth of time-use data for migrants, particularly unemployed female migrants, which could greatly enhance our understanding of their circumstances. To address this, there needs to be a shift towards collecting more female-specific data, shedding light on their challenges and prompting informed policy decisions.
Insta Links:
Human Migration
Mains Links:
What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? ( UPSC 2021)
Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration within and outside India in the last four decades. ( UPSC 2015)