Why in News?
- Recently, there was concern in Tamil Nadu over a possible exodus of migrant workers after videos showed purported attacks on Hindi-speaking people.
- Approx. a million migrants are estimated to work in Tamil Nadu, and industry bodies fear the state’s industrial and manufacturing sector would be critically impacted by an exodus.
Statistics about Migration-
- Census 2011 Data- Number of internal migrants (both inter-state and intra-state) in India at 45.36 crore, comprise 37 percent of the country’s population.
- The annual net migrant flows amounted to around 1% of the working age population.
- India’s workforce/manpower was 48.2 crores strong. This figure is assessed to have exceeded 50 crores in 2016.
- Report of the Working Group on Migration, 2017- As per the report under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation stated that 17 districts accounted for the top 25 percent of India’s total male out-migration.
- Ten of these districts are in UP, six in Bihar, and one in Odisha.
- Economic Survey (2016-17)- Relatively less developed states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have high net out-migration.
- Relatively more developed states for example Goa, Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka reflect net immigration.
- In 2015-16, the largest recipient was the Delhi, which comprised more than half of migration.
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar taken together account for half of total out-migrants.
- Migration in India Report 2020-21- The report published by Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation in June 2022, collated numbers for temporary visitors and migrants.
- 0.7% of the country’s population was registered as a ‘temporary visitor’ between July 2020 to June 2021 period.
- Temporary visitors were defined as those who arrived in households after March 2020 and stayed continuously for a period of 15 days or more but less than six months.
- Over 84 percent of these 0.7% temporary visitors moved places due to pandemic.
- The all-India migration rate was 28.9% between July 2020 to June 2021, with a 26.5 % migration rate in rural areas and 34.9% in urban areas.
- Females registered a higher share of migration rate of 47.9%; 48% in rural and 47.8% in urban areas.
- Migration rate for males was 10.7%, with 5.9% in rural and 22.5% in urban areas.
- 86.8% females migrated for marriage while 49.6% of the males migrated in search of employment.
Significance of Migration and Migrants-
- Labour Demand and Supply- Migration fills gaps in demand for and supply of labour, efficiently allocates skilled labour, unskilled labour, and cheap labour.
- Skill Development- Migration improves the knowledge and skills of migrants through exposure and interaction with the outside world.
- Quality of Life- Migration enhances chances of employment and economic prosperity which in turn raise quality of life.
- Economic Remittances- The migrants also send extra income and remittance back home, in that way positively impacting their native place.
- Social Remittances- Migration supports to enhance the social life of migrants, as they learn about new cultures, customs, and languages which helps to boost brotherhood among people and ensures greater equality and tolerance.
Various Challenges Related to Migration-
- Issues faced by Marginalised Sections- Whereas the people who are poor or belong to a marginalised section do not find it simple to mix up.
- Social and Psychological Aspects- Generally, migrants are not easily accepted by the host place and they always remain as a second-class citizen.
- Any person migrating to a new country faces many challenges, from cultural adaptation and language barriers to homesickness and loneliness.
- Exclusion from Political Rights and Social Benefits- Migrant workers are deprived of various opportunities to exercise their political rights such as the right to vote.
- Furthermore, the need to provide proof of address, Voter IDs and Aadhaar cards, which is not easy due to the fluidity of their lives, deprive them from accessing welfare schemes and policies.
Government Initiatives Related to Migration-
- In 2021, NITI Aayog, together with a working sub-group of officials and members of civil society, has prepared a draft National Migrant Labour policy.
- The progress of One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) project and introduction of the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC), PM Garib Kalyan Yojna scheme and e-Shram portal reflected a ray of hope.
- Though, the story of migrants is still a tale of distress in India.