2. Migration: Types, Causes and Consequences

NCERT questions:

Choose the right answer for the following from the given options:

(i) Which one of the following is the main reason for male migration in India?

a) Education

b) Business

c) Work and employment

d) Marriage

Ans. c) Work and employment

(ii) Which one of the following states receives maximum number of migrants?

a) Uttar Pradesh

b) Delhi

c) Maharashtra

d) Bihar

Ans. c) Maharashtra

(iii) Which one of the following streams is dominated by male migrants in India?

a) Rural – Rural

b) Urban – Rural

c) Rural – Urban

d) Urban – Urban

Ans. c) Rural – Urban

(iv) Which one of the following urban agglomeration has the highest share in migrant population?

a) Mumbai – UA

b) Delhi – UA

c) Bangalore – UA

d) Chennai – UA

Ans. a) Mumbai – UA

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words:

(i) Differentiate between lifetime migrant and migrant by last residence

Ans. According to the Census of India, migration is enumerated on two bases:

a) Place of birth (lifetime migrant)

b) Place of residence (migrant by place of last residence)

(ii) Identify the main reason for male female selective migration.

Ans. Work and employment have remained the main cause for male migration. It constitutes:

38% of total male migration

3% of the male population migrates due to business

6% for education

2% because of marriage

10% male population is migrants by birth

25% male population has migrated with household

16% of male population migrated due to other reasons

The mail migration due to marriage is concentrated in Meghalaya, where matriarchy is prevalent.

(iii) What is the impact of rural urban migration on the age and sex structure on the place of origin and destination?

Ans. Migration leads to redistribution of population within a country. Rural urban migration is one of the important factors contributing to the population growth of cities. Age and skill selective out migration from rural areas have adverse effect on rural demographic structure. High out migration results in serious imbalance in age sex composition. Male population within the working age group migrant out of rural areas leaving females, children and old age people which increases the share of dependent population in rural areas. The situation is especially difficult for females because they have to look after both domestic and economic work in the villages leading to higher participation of women in agriculture without decrease in their household workload. This also leads to loss of human resources from the rural areas, leaving them with unskilled people, thus reducing the total productivity and hence hampering the development of rural areas. Urban areas receive heavy in migration of working age male population. Causing sex ratio to be highly unfavourable for females, this gives rise to crimes against women and increases their vulnerability.

 Answer the following questions in about 150 words:

(i) Discuss the consequence of international migration in India.

Ans. India 2020 has recorded that more than 17.8 million people have emigrate to India from other countries. As far as immigration from India is concerned, it is estimated that there are around 4.5 million people of Indian diaspora across 110 countries.

Emigration: A major benefit for the source region is the remittance sent by migrants. Remittances from the international migrants are one of the major sources of foreign exchange. Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu receive very significant amount from their international migrants. If remittance is the major benefits of migration from the point of view of the source of region, the loss of human resources, particularly highly skilled people, is the most serious cost. Consequently, the existing under development in the source region gets reinforced.

When people move from one country to another, they act as agents of social change. They carry the ideas related to new technology etc. Migration leads to intermixing of people from diverse cultures. It has positive contributions such as evolution of composite global culture this widens up mental horizons of people. On the other hand, when people move out of their own countries to other countries due to differing social and cultural values, they feel alienated and lead a loss of identity and sense of dejection among the individuals. Continued feeling of dejection where motivate people to fall in the trap of anti-social activities like crime and drug abuse.

Immigration: The heavy influx of migrants from neighbouring countries, mostly being illegal, give rise to many socio economic problems. They lead to increase in population which causes overcrowding, development of unregulated colonies and slumps.

Also, it leads to Increase in pressure on infrastructure which is unable to cope with increasing population, increased unemployment, pressure on government. Exchequers on Social Security schemes leads to over exploitation of resources. It also leads to increase in crime rates especially against women as most of the migrants are male, which disturbs the sex ratio of recipient cities in India. It also leads to tension between immigrants and native inhabitants.

(ii) What are socio demographic consequences of migration?

Ans. Migration is a response to the uneven distribution of opportunities over space. People tend to move from place of low opportunity and low safety to the place of higher opportunity and better safety. Consequences can be observed in economic, social, cultural, political and demographic terms:

Demographic consequences:

a) Migration leads to redistribution of the population within a country. Rural urban migration is one of the important factors contributing to the population growth of cities.

b) Age and skill selective out migration from the rural area have adverse effect on the rural demographic structure creating serious imbalances in age and sex composition.

c) Male population within the working age group migrate out of rural areas, leaving females, children and old age people which increase the share of dependent population in rural areas.

d) Urban areas receive heavy in migration of working age male population causing sex ratio to be highly unfavourable for females.

e) Social consequences: Migrants act as agents of social change. The new ideas related to new technologies Family Planning Girls Education etc. get diffused from urban to rural areas through them.

Migration leads to intermixing of people from diverse cultures:

a) It has positive contributions, such as evolution of composite culture, and it widens up the mental horizons of the people at large but it also has serious negative consequences – anonymity, creates social vacuum and sense of dejection among individuals.

b) Continued feeling of dejection leads people to fall in the trap of anti-social activities like crime and drug abuse. Also, it may lead to loss of identities among the immigrants.

c) Due to heavy mail out migration from rural areas, situation for females becomes especially difficult because they have to look after both domestic and economic work in the villages leading to higher participation of women in agricultural without decrease in their household responsibilities.

d) Migration of women either for education or employment enhances their autonomy and role in the economy.

e) Urban areas receive heavy in migration of working age male population causing sex ratio to be highly unfavourable for females, which gives rise to crimes against women and increases their vulnerability.

f) Unemployment leads to increase in crime rate in the urban areas.

Question Bank

Very short answer type questions:

1. Define ‘Indian diaspora’ in migration.

Ans. The Indian diaspora is a generic term to describe the people who migrated from territories that are currently within the borders of the Republic of India it also refers to their descendants.

2. Give the state each with dominating push and pull factors.

Ans. Push factor dominated state – Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Pull factor dominated state – Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana

3. How do we determine whether a person is migrated?

Ans. When the place of birth of a person and place of residence is different, he is said to be migrant.

4. Name the regions from which early migrants came to India in early history

Ans. The regions from which early migrants came to India in early history are West and Central Asia and South-East Asia.

5. Name few countries where the Indian migrants settled over a period of time

Ans. Mauritius, Caribbean Islands, Fiji, South Africa under the Girmit Act

Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, African countries

USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Germany later also.

6. Name any four components of migration recorded in the census of India.

Ans.

a) Place of birth

b) Duration of residents at place of enumeration

c) Place of last residence

d) Reasons for migration

7. Why is the male migration higher from rural to urban?

Ans. Male migration is higher from rural to urban for search of job opportunities and provide better standards of living to their family.

8. Name the countries from where people have migrated to India.

Ans. Census 2001 recorded that more than five million people have migrated to India from other countries 96% came from neighbouring countries:

a) Bangladesh (3.0 million) and Nepal (0.5 million).

b) Refugees from Tibet Sri, Lanka Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Myanmar

9. Name the state having largest number of immigrants and of out migrants.

Ans.

a) Immigrants – Maharashtra

b) Out migrants – Uttar Pradesh and Bihar etc.

10. Name the process of migration from the plain areas to pasture on mountains during summers and again from mountain pastures to plain areas during winter.

Ans. Transhuman.

11. In which stream of migration is the number of intra state migrants the largest in India?

Ans. Rural to rural

12. Name the ‘urban agglomeration’ having the highest share of immigrant population.

Ans. Greater Mumbai has the highest share of immigrant population in India.

13. Why do people migrate in large numbers from rural to urban areas in India?

Ans. In India people migrate from rural to urban areas mainly due to poverty, high population pressure on the land, lack of basic infrastructure facilities like healthcare education etc.

Short answer type questions:

1. Define migration. What is the basis of enumeration?

Ans. Migration is the movement of people from one place to another in search of better opportunities with an intention to settle. In the census of India migration is enumerated on two bases:

a) Place of birth: If the place of birth is different from the place of enumeration (known as lifetime migrant)

b) Place of residence: If the place of last residence is different from the place of enumeration (known as migrant by place of last residents)

2. What are the causes of migration?

Ans. People leave their place of birth and residence for better opportunities in order to settle with or without family. The reason for movement can be categorized into two factors push factor and pull factors. Push factor forces people to leave their place of origin while the pull factors attract people from different places to settle there. Pull factors are dominant in place of destination while push factors are dominant in place of origin.

3. Write a note on spatial migration within India.

Ans. In India there is a wide spatial variation in migration. Some states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana attract migrants from other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar etc. Maharashtra occupies first place in the list with 2.3 million immigrants followed by Delhi, Gujarat and Haryana. On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh (2.6 million) and Bihar (1.7 million) were the states which had the largest number of out migrants from the state. Among the urban agglomeration (UA) Greater Mumbai received the highest number of immigrants with the largest share in it. These differences are largely due to the size of the state in which these urban agglomerations are located.

4. What are the streams of migration? Why is it important?

Ans. Migration can be permanent temporary or seasonal there are generally four streams of migration:

a) Rural to rural

b) Rural to urban

c) Urban to rural

d) Urban to urban

Migration is important because it is a spontaneous effort to attain a better balance between resources and population. There are push and pull factors working together behind migration.

5. Statistics work collected on migration since first survey but later many modifications have been introduced. Explain.

Ans. Actually, migration was recorded from the very beginning of the first census of India conducted in 1881. The data were recorded on the basis of place of birth. However, there have been many modifications since then:

a) The first major modification was introduced in 1961 census by bringing in two additional components viz. place of birth, i.e. village or town and duration of residence (if born elsewhere).

b) Further in 1971, additional information on place of last residence and duration of stay at the place of enumeration were incorporated.

c) Information on reasons for migration were incorporated in 1981 census and modified consecutively with time.

6. Which urban agglomeration of India has the highest share of migrant population? Why?

Ans. Greater Mumbai has the highest share of migrant population. It is due to following reasons:

a) Added employment opportunities

b) Urbanization and industrialization

c) Relatively higher wages

d) Better educational facilities

e) Other civic amenities

7. Decode migration? Explain any four factors responsible for the migration of people in India.

Ans. Migration is an instance of moving to live in another place.

Four factors responsible for the migration of people in India are:

a) Availability of regular work and relatively higher wages

b) High population pressure on the land

c) Natural disasters like, drought, earthquake wars, etc.

d) Better opportunities for education, better health facilities and sources of entertainment

8. Explain the causes of migration of unskilled migrants from rural to urban areas in India and their sufferings.

Ans. The causes of migration of unskilled migrants from rural to urban areas in India and their sufferings are:

a) Due to poverty

b) High population pressure on the land

c) Lack of basic infrastructural facilities like healthcare education etc.

d) Availability of regular work and relatively higher wages in urban agglomeration

Their sufferings:

a) Absence of family members and children causes anxieties

b) Humiliation

9. Explain the main cause of rural-to-rural migration and rural to urban migration.

Ans. In 2001 rural to rural migration was the highest amongst women and it was due to marriage on the other hand rural to urban migration was recorded highest amongst males and it was for work and employment.

10. People are attached to their birth places still they leave them. Why?

Ans. People are attached to their birth places still they leave them because of push factors. For e.g. lack of basic infrastructural facilities health and education apart from these natural calamities like floods, droughts, earthquakes tsunami war etc. give extra pressure or push to migrate.

11. Migration leads to intermixing of people from diverse culture. Define.

Ans. Migration leads to intermixing of people from diverse culture and it results in evolution of a composite culture when some people come from a developed region to under developed region they bring with them a developed thinking and new technology. Similarly, girls’ education has become important as a result of migration.

12. Explain the problems that arise in urban areas due to migration.

Ans. Due to migration to urban areas problems of slums, dirty colonies and overcrowding develop. Resulting excessive exploitation of natural resources, land degradation, air and water pollution, sewage problems etc.

13. Explain the demographic problems which arise due to migration.

Ans. Migration leads to the redistribution of the population within a country. Rural-urban migration is one of the important factors of contributing to the population growth of cities. Age and skill selective out migration from the rural area have adverse effect on the rural demographic structure. States of out migrants’ face problems of lack of skilful youth and increased number of dependent persons. Migration has brought serious imbalances in the age and sex composition in the emigrating states; similar imbalances are also brought in the recipient states.

Long answer type questions:

1. Why do people migrate?

OR

Explain the factors behind migration?

Ans. People migrate to places different from their origin for a variety of reasons:

a) Push factors: Those factors which make a place of origin seem less attractive are called push actors. The factors of unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics and social economic backwardness.

b) Pull factors: Those factors which make the place of destination seem more attractive than the place of origin is called pull factors. The place of destination provides better job opportunities and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property and pleasant climate.

The reason for migration of males and females are different for example work and employment have remained the main cause for male migration (38%), while it is only 3% for the females. Contrary to this about 65% of females move out from their parental houses following their marriage. This is the most important cause in the rural areas in India except in Meghalaya where reverse is the case. In comparison to this marriage migration of the male, is only 2% in the country.

2. What are the consequences of migration?

Ans. Migration is a response to the uneven distribution of opportunities over space it will tend to move from place of low opportunity and low safety to the place of higher opportunity and better safety. Consequently, it can be observed in economic, social, cultural, political and demographic terms:

a) Economic consequences: A major benefit for the source region is the remittance sent by migrants. Remittances from the international migrants are one of the major sources of foreign exchange. Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu receive very significant amount from their international migrants. The amount of remittance sent by the internal migrants is very meagre as compared to international migrants but it plays an important role in the growth of economy of the source area. Remittances are merely used for food, repayment of debts, treatment, marriages, children’s education, agricultural inputs construction of houses, etc. Unregulated migration to the metropolitan cities of India has caused overcrowding.

If remittances are the major benefits of migration from the point of view of the source of region the loss of human resources particularly highly skilled people is the most serious cost. The market for advanced skills has become truly a global market and the most dynamic industrial economies are admitting and recruiting significant proportions of highly trained professionals from poor regions. Consequently, the existing underdevelopment in the source region gets reinforced.

b) Demographic consequences: Migration leads to the redistribution of the population within a country. Rural urban migration is one of the important factors contributing to the population growth of cities. Age and skill selective out migration from the rural area have adverse effect on the rural demographic structure leading to serious imbalances in age and sex composition.

c) Social consequences: Migrants act as agents of social change. The new ideas related to new technologies, family planning, girl’s education, etc. get diffuse from urban to rural areas through them. Migration leads to intermixing of people from diverse cultures. It widens up the mental horizon of the people. But it also has serious negative consequences such as anonymity, which creates social vacuum and sense of dejection among individuals. Continued feeling of dejection may motivate people to fall in the trap of anti-social activities like crime and drug abuse.

d) Environmental consequences: Overcrowding of people due to rural urban migration has put pressure on the existing social physical infrastructural in the urban areas this ultimately leads to unplanned growth of urban settlement and formation of slums shanty colonies. Due to over exploitation of natural resources cities are facing the acute problem of depletion of groundwater, air pollution, disposal of sewage and management of solid waste.

e) Others: Migration (even excluding the marriage migration) affects the status of women directly or indirectly. In the rural areas male selective out migration leaving their wives behind puts extra physical as well as mental pressure on the women. Migration of women either for education or employment helps their autonomy and role in the economy but also increases their vulnerability.

Development of slums in the industrially developed states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi is a negative consequence of unregulated migration within the country.

3. What description is found about migration in Indian diaspora? What are its implications?

Ans.

a) First wave: During colonial period, millions of indented laborer’s were sent to Mauritius, Caribbean Islands, Fiji and South Africa by British from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to work as plantation workers in British colonies. All such migration were covered under the time bound contact known as Girmit Act (Indian Migration Act). The living conditions of these laborer’s were not better than the slaves.

b) Second wave: The millions of professionals, artisans, traders and factory workers in search of economic opportunities migrated to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and African countries. It led to steady outflow of Indian skilled and semi-skilled labors in the wake of oil boom in West Asia in 1970s. There was also some outflow of entrepreneurs, store owners, professionals and businessmen to Western countries.

c) Third wave: It comprises professionals like doctors, engineers, software engineers, management consultant, financial experts and media persons to countries such as the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Germany. These professionals enjoy distinction of being highly educated and the highest earning and the prospering groups

Implications:

a) Brain drains: The highly qualified and skilled people are moving out of the country leaving unskilled and illiterate stuff for domestic economy. It has created scarcity of qualified manpower.

b) Indian diaspora is playing an important role in the development of the countries of destination.

4. What are economic consequences of migration?

Ans. Economic consequences:

a) A major benefit for the source region is the remittance sent by migrants. Remittances from the international migrants are one of the major sources of foreign exchange.

b) In 2002 India received US $ 11 billion as remittances from international migrants.

c) Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu receive very high significant amount from their international migrants.

d) The number of remittances sent by the internal migrants is very imprecise in comparison to the international migrants. But it plays an important role in the growth of economy of the source area. Remittances are mainly used for food, repayment of debts, treatment, marriages, children’s education, agricultural inputs, construction of houses, etc.

e) For thousands of the poor villages of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh etc. remittances work as lifeblood for their economy.

f) Migration from rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha to the rural areas of Punjab Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh accounted for the success of their green revolution strategy for agricultural development.

g) Apart from this, unregulated migration to the metropolitan cities of India has caused overcrowding. Development of slums in industrially developed states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Delhi is a negative consequence of unregulated migration within the country.

1. How is migration response to the uneven distribution of opportunities over a space? Explain the economic consequences of migration in India.

Ans. Migration is a response to the uneven distribution of opportunities over space:

a) People move from place of low opportunity and low safety. This in turn creates both benefits and problems for the areas; people migrate from and migrate to.

b) Consequences can be observed in economic, social, cultural, political and demographic terms.

Economic consequences:

a) A major benefit for the source region is the remittance sent by migrants.

b) Remittances from international migrants are one of the major sources of foreign exchange

c) Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu receive a significant amount from their international migrants.

d) The amount of remittance sent by the internal migrants is very meagre as compared to international migrants.

e) Internal migrants play an important role in the growth of the economy of the source area.

6. Differentiate between temporary and permanent migrations.

Ans.

7. Differentiate between intra state and interstate migrations.

Ans.

8. Differentiate between push factor and pull factors of migration.

Ans.

—x—x—x—