Challenges of migration in India

According to the International Organization for Migration, a migrant is an individual who relocates or has relocated either across an international border or within a state, leaving their usual place of residence. Analyzing changes in migration in terms of scale, direction, demographics, and frequency helps shape effective policies, programs, and interventions.

Forms and Patterns of Migration:

Internal Migration: This occurs within a country and can be classified by origin and destination, including rural-urban migration, intra-state, and inter-state migration.

External Migration: Also known as international migration, this involves individuals or families moving from one country to another, driven by various factors. These include economic opportunities (e.g., Indian IT professionals in the US or construction workers in GCC nations), education, family reunification, or seeking asylum from persecution or conflict (e.g., Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh).

Emigration: This refers to the movement of individuals from India to different parts of the world.

Immigration: This involves people from various countries migrating to India.

Forced Migration: Occurs when individuals or families are compelled to relocate due to factors such as war, persecution, or natural disasters.

Voluntary Migration: Involves individuals or families choosing to move, often motivated by better economic opportunities or an improved quality of life.

Temporary Migration: Intended for a short duration, such as seasonal work, while permanent migration involves settling permanently in a new location.

Reverse Migration: Refers to individuals or families returning to their country of origin or original place of residence after previously migrating elsewhere.

Reasons for Migration

Economic Factors:

Push Factors: Economic challenges such as poverty, low productivity, and unemployment act as push factors, compelling people to leave their current locations. For instance, farmers in Maharashtra facing low crop yields due to recurring droughts may migrate to cities like Pune or Mumbai to find work in the construction or service sectors.

Pull Factors: On the other hand, opportunities for better jobs, higher wages, and an improved quality of life serve as pull factors, attracting people to move elsewhere. For example, a young graduate from a village in Uttar Pradesh might move to Noida or Gurugram for a software development job due to the higher salary and better prospects in the city.

Socio-Cultural Factors:

Social Influences: Migration can be driven by social factors such as marriage, family reunification, or the desire to be closer to one’s community or social network. Examples include moving for marriage or to escape caste-based discrimination and violence.

Cultural Preservation: People may migrate to regions where their cultural practices, traditions, and beliefs are respected and upheld. For instance, a community might relocate to an area with a strong presence of their ethnic or religious group, allowing them to maintain their cultural identity.

Political Factors:

Instability and Persecution: Political instability, conflicts, and persecution can force individuals to migrate in search of safety and security. Government policies, administrative actions, and separatist movements can also influence migration patterns.

Environmental Factors:

Impact of Natural Disasters and Climate Change: Environmental factors such as natural disasters, climate change, deforestation, and water scarcity can cause the loss of homes, livelihoods, and resources, leading to migration. Affected populations may move in search of safety, sustainability, and better living conditions. Some estimates predict that India could see significant migration, with around 45 million people expected to be displaced by 2050 due to the effects of climate change.

Developmental Projects: Large-scale projects like the Narmada Dam Project and the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project also contribute to migration as communities are displaced due to construction and development activities.

Negative Impacts Associated With Migration

Demographic Impact:
Migration leads to population redistribution within a country, particularly contributing to urban population growth. However, selective out-migration from rural areas can have negative effects, leading to the feminization of agriculture, especially in terms of age and skill distribution.

Environmental Impact:
Rural-to-urban migration contributes to overcrowding in cities, placing stress on existing infrastructure and resulting in unplanned urban expansion and the development of slums. For example, Mumbai’s extensive slum population, which includes more than half of the city’s residents, is a direct result of this rural-to-urban migration. Increased traffic congestion and reliance on informal waste disposal systems due to unplanned settlements significantly contribute to air and soil pollution in many Indian cities.

Social Tensions:
Migration can intensify social tensions, leading to competition for jobs, housing, and public services, as well as cultural clashes and instances of discrimination. It can also result in family separation, emotional distress, and the disruption of social networks, particularly when family members are left behind in the migrant’s place of origin.

A case study

• Mritunjay Shrivastav, a 39-year-old, was selected for a construction job in Israel under a new bilateral scheme after passing a skills test.
• Attracted by the prospect of earning a salary of ₹1.5-2 lakh and undeterred by the Gaza war, he flew to Israel in May. However, what awaited him there was unexpected.
• Though he had been tested for his skills in shuttering, upon arriving at the construction site of a commercial tower in Ashkelon, he was assigned tasks like welding, tiling, and sweeping. He worked for only 12 days and had no work for 18 days.
• After a confrontation with the Chinese supervisor, he was told to return to India.

This is only one case ,there are many who shares the same story as Mritunjay.

Thus despite some positive aspects of migration ,it has some negative aspects too which can not be ignored.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Providing Basic Amenities: Ensure the protection of migrants’ rights by granting access to essential services like housing, healthcare, education, and employment, regardless of their migration status. Schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) for housing in urban areas and the One Nation One Ration Card scheme to meet the food needs of migrants are examples of efforts in this direction.

Integration and Inclusion: Encourage the integration of migrants into society, promoting social cohesion while reducing discrimination and xenophobia.

Skill Development and Job Creation: Investing in rural skill development programs can enhance employability and create job opportunities in villages, reducing the necessity for migration in search of work. Initiatives like the Skill India Mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana can play a key role in empowering migrants.

Counter Magnet Cities: Governments should invest in regional cities’ infrastructure, amenities, and economic opportunities to promote balanced regional development. This helps reduce pressure on major urban centers by offering employment, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare, and an improved standard of living. Counter-magnet cities help distribute population growth more evenly, alleviating congestion, reducing resource strain, and easing infrastructure burdens in overcrowded areas.

Labour Market Policies: Formulate labour market policies that protect migrant workers’ rights, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social security benefits.

Regulation and Worker Protection: Strict enforcement of labor laws is essential to safeguard migrant workers from exploitation. This includes ensuring fair compensation, safe working environments, and effective grievance redressal mechanisms.

Safe migration and tackling challenges of migration is very essential for leveraging benefits of migration and make it a tool of development

The End of the Blog: Challenges of migration in India