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Changing Pattern of Internal Migration in India

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Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia

Part of the book series: Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development ((DTSD,volume 5))

Abstract

Although internal migration in India has been shaped by urbanization, its actual contribution vis-a-vis components of natural increase and rural to urban classification remains low (about 20 % of urban growth). On the other hand, while inter-state migration has been an issue of political conflict, the fact remains that majority of the people move within the state boundaries. Another important finding from this study is that male migration has declined, while female migration has increased since the economic reforms initiated in 1991. The decline in male migration in rural areas is sharper than in urban areas. The possible reasons for the decline in male mobility are: insufficient job creation during the last two decades, a stagnation of job opportunities in the organized sector, rising commutation of workers, and the employment guarantee scheme initiated in rural areas. Increased female migration seems to be the result of increased marriage and family associated migration. This chapter throws light on the emerging pattern of internal migration in India.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The Census of India applies the following criteria to identify towns:

    1. (i)

      All places with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee etc.

    2. (ii)

      All other places which satisfy the criteria of minimum population of 5000; at least 75 % of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits and a density of population of at least 400 persons per square km. On the basis of these criteria, some settlements are classified as new towns, while the existing towns may get declassified if they do not satisfy the above criteria. The net addition of towns is the result of new towns minus declassified towns.

  2. 2.

    As per the NSS 64th round of survey (2007–2008), “short-term migrants,” were defined as those migrants who were away from their village or town for 30 days or more, but not more than 6 months in the preceding 365 days for the purpose of employment or search for employment. They were enumerated at the place of origin and are treated as not having changed their usual place of residence. The number of short term migrants was 13.6 million in 2007–2008, constituting 1.3 % of the population of India (NSSO 2010; Keshri and Bhagat 2012).

  3. 3.

    Migration data in Indian Censuses during the British rule was based on place of birth. While it is possible to study inter-province/state migration from this data, the nature of tabulations precludes a study of inter-district migration (Census of India 1931: 114).

  4. 4.

    Some demographers pointed out that the turbulent political and social conditions prevalent in many parts of India during the 1991 Census influenced the overall quality of data. There was a strong protest against the reservation of government jobs for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) on the basis of caste. Also, massive processions organized by Hindu fundamentalists were a source of unrest at the time of the 1991 Census (Srinivasan 1994). The post-enumeration checks also confirmed the lower overall quality of the 1991 Census (Dyson 1994).

  5. 5.

    Inter-district migration is also affected by creation of new districts (Lusome and Bhagat 2006).

  6. 6.

    Although marriage is cited as a culturally appropriate reason of female migration, a substantial proportion of females work after migration and are part of the labour market (Shanthi 2006). In 2007–2008, 32 % of migrant females in rural areas and 14 % of migrant females in the urban areas were reported to be working (NSSO 2010).

  7. 7.

    Casual wage worker is a person, who was casually engaged in others’ farm or non-farm enterprises (both household and non-household) and, in return, received wages according to the terms of the daily or periodic work contract (NSSO 2010: 10).

  8. 8.

    Regular/salaried workers are those who worked in others’ farm or non-farm enterprises (both household and non-household) and, in return, received salary or wages on a regular basis (i.e. not on the basis of daily or periodic renewal of work contract). This category included not only persons getting time wage but also persons receiving piece wage or salary and paid apprentices, both full time and part-time (NSSO 2010: 10).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Migration and Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, 4000 88, India

    Ram B. Bhagat

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  1. Ram B. Bhagat
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Correspondence to Ram B. Bhagat .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Recherche pour le Développem, Paris, France

    Christophe Z. Guilmoto

  2. School of Demography, Australian National University, Canberra, West Australia, Australia

    Gavin W. Jones

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Bhagat, R.B. (2016). Changing Pattern of Internal Migration in India. In: Guilmoto, C., Jones, G. (eds) Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_15

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