Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Demographic and Development Divide in India pp 197–258Cite as

Development Disparity and Interstate Out-Migration in the Districts of India

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Migration research in India has largely focussed on interstate migration and less on migration at the district level. While employment has been the single largest factor of interstate out-migration, migration due to education is rising. Using data from the Census of India 2001, this chapter estimates the interstate out-migration rate in the districts of India. It tests the hypothesis that development disparity is positively associated with the level of interstate out-migration in the districts of India. We have used the Primary Census Abstract (PCA), D-series data and household data from the Census of India. The district is the unit of analyses. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, composite index and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression have been used in the analyses.

The interstate male out-migration rate for employment was 9 per thousand population and that of female interstate migration for marriage or accompanying the family was 7 per thousand population. Both male and female out-migration was less than 10 per thousand in more than 40% of the districts whereas it was more than 40 per one thousand in 7% of the districts. Women’s out-migration was five times higher than men due to marriage and moving with the family. The bordering districts are more prone to out-migration than developed districts/towns/cities of neighbouring states. Female work participation rate, female literacy and level of urbanization are positively associated with interstate out-migration, whereas agricultural labourers showed a negative association with the interstate out-migration rate (ISOMR). The districts under both low and high level of development had higher interstate out-migration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbas, R., & Varma, D. (2014). Internal labor migration in India raises integration challenges for migrants. Migration Information Source.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akram, M. (2015). An Analysis of rural to urban in labour migration in India with special reference to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(10), 53–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andre, D. M. (2017, June 6). Internal migration and conflict. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@Goodsvejk/internal-migration-andgroup-conflict-422c1f214dfe

  • Bell, M., Blake, M., Boyle, P., Duke Williams, O., Rees, P., Stillwell, J., & Hugo, G. (2002). Cross national comparison of internal migration: Issues and measures. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society), 165(3), 435–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhagat, R. B. (2016). Changing pattern of migration in India. In C. Guilmoto & G. Jones (Eds.), Contemporary demographic transformations in China, India and Indonesia (pp. 239–254). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bhagat, R. B. (2017, September). Migration and urban transition in India: Implications for development. In United Nations expert group meeting on sustainable cities. Human mobilities and international migration. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs UN Secretariat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, P. (1998). The informal sector and rural-to-urban migration: Some Indian evidence. Economic and Political Weekly, 33, 1255–1262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya, B. B., & Sakthivel, S. (2004). Regional growth and disparity in India: Comparison of pre-and post-reform decades. Economic and Political Weekly, 39, 1071–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilsborrow, R. (1998). Migration, urbanization and development: New directions and issues. What do we know about recent trends in urbanization? (pp. 59–88). New York: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bose, A. (1967). Migration streams in India. Population Review, 11(2), 39–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashin, P., & Sahay, R. (1996). Internal migration, center-state grants, and economic growth in the states of India. Staff Papers, 43(1), 123–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Central Statistical Organization. (2010). Ministry of statistics and programme implementation. (2010). New Delhi: Agricultural Allied Sector in India National Accounts Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Das, S., Ghate, C., & Robertson, P. E. (2013). Remoteness and unbalanced growth: Understanding divergence across Indian districts. Crawley: University of Western Australia, Business School, Economics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, D., Maiti, P., Mukherjee, R., Sarkar, S., & Chakrabarti, S. (2000). Growth and interstate disparities in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 35, 2413–2422.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Haan, A. (2011). Inclusive growth? Labour migration and poverty in India. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 54(3), 387–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dehury, B., & Mohanty, S. K. (2015). Regional estimates of multidimensional poverty in India. Economics: The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal, 9(2015–2036), 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deshingkar, P., & Akter, S. (2009). Migration and human development in India. (Details).

    Google Scholar 

  • Drèze, J., & Murthi, M. (2001). Fertility, education, and development: Evidence from India. Population and Development Review, 27(1), 33–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Economic Survey of India. (2018). Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs. Economic Division. Government of India, 2017–2018, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, M. (2008). Economic reforms, growth and regional divergence in India. Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, 2(3), 265–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guilmoto, C. Z., & Rajan, S. I. (2002). District level estimates of fertility from India’s 2001 census. Economic and Political Weekly, 37, 665–672.

    Google Scholar 

  • IOM. (2015). World migration report: Migrants and cities, a new partnership to manage mobility. Geneva: International Organization for Migration.

    Google Scholar 

  • IOM. (2018). World migration report (International Organization for Migration). Geneva: The UN Migration Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khoo, S. E., Smith, P. C., & Fawcett, J. T. (1984). Migration of women to cities: The Asian situation in comparative perspective. International Migration Review, 18(4), 1247–1263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, N. A. (2011). Vulnerability of migrants and responsiveness of the state: The case of unskilled migrant workers in Kerala, India. Kochi: Centre for Socio-economic & Environmental Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, E. S. (1966). A theory of migration. Demography, 3(1), 47–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, W. (1954). Economic development with unlimited supplies of labour. Manchester School of Economics and Social Studies, 22, 139–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazumdar, I., Neetha, N., & Agnihotri, I. (2013). Migration and gender in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 48(10), 54–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, A., & Murayama, M. (2009). Rural to urban migration: A district-level analysis for India. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 5(2), 35–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, S. K., & Dehury, B. (2012). Human development indices: Old and new. Artha Vijnana, 54(1), 19–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, S. K., & Rajbhar, M. (2014). Fertility transition and adverse child sex ratio in districts of India. Journal of Biosocial Science, 46(6), 753–771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty, S. K., Govil, D., Chauhan, R. K., Kim, R., & Subramanian, S. V. (2016). Estimates of poverty and inequality in the districts of India, 2011–2012. Journal of Development Policy and Practice, 1(2), 142–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, S. (1979). Understanding canonical analysis and its application through human mobility research. Geographical Review of India, 41(3), 234–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Sample Survey Office (2010). Migration in India (Report No 533 (64/10.2/2), 2007–2008). New Delhi: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajan, I. (2012). Interstate migration survey, Kerala. (IMS, 2012). Centre for Development Studies and funded by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravenstein, E. W. (1889). The laws of migration. Journal of the Statistical Society of London, 52(2), 288.

    Google Scholar 

  • RGI. (2001). Migration data. Abstract on Data Highlights. Census of India, 2001. New Delhi: Office of Registrar General, India. http://censusindia.gov.in/Data_Products/Data_Highlights/Data_Highlights_link/data_highlights_D1D2D3.pdf

  • RGI. (2011). Migration data, abstract on data highlights. New Delhi: Office of Registrar General, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, J. P. (1984). Distance patterns of rural to urban migration in India. Genus, 40, 119–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skeldon, R. (2008). International migration as a tool in development policy: A passing phase? Population and Development Review, 34(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava, R., & Sasikumar, S. K. (2005). Migration and the poor in India: An overview of recent trends, issues and policies. In T. Siddiqui (ed.), Migration and development: Pro-poor policy choices (pp. 157–216). Dhaka: University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stouffer, S. A. (1940). Intervening opportunities: A theory relating mobility and distance. American Sociological Review, 5(6), 845–867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suryanarayana, M. H., Agrawal, A., Prabhu, K. S. (2011). Inequality adjusted human development index for India’s states. United Nations Development Programme, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrazas, A. (2011). Migration and development: Policy perspectives from the United States. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Todaro, M. P. (1969). A model of labor migration and urban unemployment in less developed countries. The American Economic Review, 59(1), 138–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi, S., & Kaur, H. (2017). Determinants of rural to urban migration in large agglomerations in India: An empirical analysis.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDP. (2009). Human development report, overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development. New York: United Nations Development Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2013). Social inclusion of internal migrants in India. New Delhi: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN-HABITAT. (2017). New urban agenda. United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, HABITAT-III, Quito 17–20 October, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, K. G. (1974). Problem in migration analysis. London: Saxon House.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2009). World development report: Reshaping economic geography. Washington, DC: the World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zipf, G. K. (1946). The PIP/D hypothesis: On the intercity movement of persons. American Sociological Review II, 677–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India

    Kalosona Paul

Authors
  1. Kalosona Paul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Sanjay K. Mohanty

  2. Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    Udaya S. Mishra

  3. Planning Department, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Rajesh K. Chauhan

Appendixes

Appendixes

Appendix 4.1: Interstate Out-Migration Rate (ISOMR) and Composite Index of Development in the Districts of India, 2001

Table 6
Full size table

Appendix 4.2: List of Top Fifty and Bottom Fifty Districts in Interstate Out-Migration Rate (ISOMR) and Composite Index of Development in India, 2001

Table 7
Full size table

Appendix 4.3: Intra-district and Intra-state (Within State Boundary) Out-Migration Rate (per 1000) by Sex (Based on Duration of Residence 0–9 Years) in Districts of India, 2001

Table 8
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Paul, K. (2019). Development Disparity and Interstate Out-Migration in the Districts of India. In: Mohanty, S., Mishra, U., Chauhan, R. (eds) The Demographic and Development Divide in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5820-3_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5820-3_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-5819-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-5820-3

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation