Migration is the movement of people from one place to another for the purpose of residing at the new place. Migration can be permanent, temporary or seasonal, and it can be within a country (internal migration) or across international boundaries (international migration). Migration is one of the three components of population change, along with births and deaths, and it significantly shapes the distribution, density and composition of population in both the areas of origin and the areas of destination.
The importance of migration has grown enormously in the modern world. Migration provides labour to areas of economic growth, brings money to areas of origin through remittances, and transfers skills and ideas across regions. However, migration can also cause problems such as overcrowding in cities, shortage of housing, exploitation of migrants and the loss of young workers from rural areas. Understanding the types, causes and consequences of migration is therefore essential for population and development planning.
Migration is classified into two broad types: internal migration and international migration. Internal migration takes place within the boundaries of a country and includes rural-to-urban migration, rural-to-rural migration, urban-to-urban migration and urban-to-rural migration. Of these, rural-to-urban migration is the most significant, as it is the main cause of urbanisation and the growth of cities. Internal migration does not change the total population of a country, but it changes the population of the regions involved.
International migration takes place across national boundaries and is divided into emigration, the movement of people out of a country, and immigration, the movement of people into a country. International migration is more strictly regulated by governments through passports and visas. The net result of immigration and emigration, called net migration, affects the total population of a country. International migration is driven by large differences in incomes, opportunities and living standards between countries.
The Census of India classifies migration by the last place of residence and records four streams of migration: rural-to-rural, rural-to-urban, urban-to-urban and urban-to-rural. Rural-to-rural migration is the largest stream in India, driven by marriage, because in Indian society a bride usually moves to the village of her husband after marriage. The second largest stream is rural-to-urban migration, which is dominated by male migrants seeking employment in towns and cities.
In India, women migrate more than men overall, but this is mainly because of marriage migration. Men migrate more for economic reasons such as employment, while women migrate mainly for marriage. The 2011 Census showed that the majority of migrants in India are women, and marriage is the single largest reason for female migration. Migration in India is therefore dominated by marriage-related female movement and employment-related male movement.
Migration is caused by a combination of push factors and pull factors. Push factors are the conditions in the area of origin that compel people to leave, such as unemployment, poverty, low agricultural incomes, lack of infrastructure, natural disasters, conflict and social discrimination. Pull factors are the attractions of the area of destination, such as better employment opportunities, higher wages, better education and health facilities, and a higher standard of living.
Economic factors are the most important cause of migration, both in India and in the world. People move from areas of low opportunity to areas of high opportunity, and the difference in incomes and employment between rural and urban areas drives rural-to-urban migration. Demographic factors, social factors such as marriage, and political factors such as conflict and persecution also cause migration. The relative strength of push and pull factors determines the volume and direction of migration.
Migration has important demographic, economic and social consequences for both the source and the destination regions. For the source region, migration reduces the pressure of population on land, but it also leads to the loss of young and working-age people, which can reduce the productive capacity of the region. Remittances sent by migrants are a major source of income for many source regions, especially in developing countries, and they improve the living standards of the families left behind.
For the destination region, migration provides cheap and abundant labour, which supports economic growth and the expansion of industries and services. However, rapid immigration can create problems of housing, congestion, pressure on public services and competition for jobs. Migration also changes the age and sex composition of both regions, since migrants are usually young adults. Socially, migration promotes the exchange of cultures and ideas, but it can also lead to the exploitation of migrant workers and social tensions in the destination areas.
Migration has played a vital role in the development of India. The migration of workers from rural areas to cities and industrial regions has supplied the labour needed for industrialisation and urbanisation. Migration from the densely populated states of the north to the developing states of the south and west, and to the metropolitan cities, has helped balance labour supply and demand across the country. Remittances sent by migrants to their home states are an important source of rural income.
Migration also poses challenges for India. The rapid inflow of migrants into cities has created overcrowding, slums and pressure on civic amenities. The outflow of young workers from rural areas has increased the dependence of the elderly and women left behind. Seasonal and circular migration of workers, such as construction workers and sugarcane harvesters, often leads to poor working conditions and exploitation. Balanced regional development and the creation of employment opportunities in rural areas are essential to manage migration in India.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Internal Migration | Movement within the country |
| International Migration | Movement across national boundaries |
| Emigration | Movement out of a country |
| Immigration | Movement into a country |
| Net Migration | Immigration minus emigration |
| Stream | Relative Size | Main Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rural to Rural | Largest | Marriage of women |
| Rural to Urban | Second largest | Employment of men |
| Urban to Urban | Significant | Employment, education |
| Urban to Rural | Smallest | Return migration, retirement |
Migration is a powerful force that reshapes the population, economy and society of both the regions people leave and the regions they enter. It is classified into internal and international migration, and within India it takes place mainly through the rural-rural and rural-urban streams, driven by marriage and employment respectively. The causes of migration lie in the push of poverty, unemployment and disasters and the pull of jobs, wages and better services. While migration supplies labour and remittances to the economy, it also creates congestion in cities and the depletion of rural labour. Balanced regional development and the protection of migrant workers are therefore essential for managing migration in India.
Keywords: Migration, internal migration, international migration, emigration, immigration, net migration, push factors, pull factors, streams of migration.