Migration decoded

Migration Decoded

Nirupam Banerjee says……

With the changing times, as our country is fast moving on its path of becoming an economic superpower, there are various problems that India is facing at present. Be it of poverty, unemployment or social injustice. However this rapid transition of India from an agricultural economy to an industrial one has given birth to another problem, i.e., migration. There are various angles in which this problem of migration can be analyzed. Some say, it is a social problem, some say it is a political problem while others argue that migration is not a problem, but a situation created as a resultant of the difference in the economic demography of the country. Let us discuss the issue of migration in detail.

What is migration?

Migration is movement of people from one place to another place in search of job, education or any other amenities that is not available in their native place. So migration can be for any purpose, be it education, job or better civic amenities.

Migration as a social problem

Every human being on the earth wants to live happily and prosperously. However in a country like India, large chunks of our people are unable to meet their basic needs of food, cloth and shelter. Now if you are not getting any job in your native place, then there are only two options left for you to choose. Either you die, because without job you don’t have money and without money you don’t have food. So either you choose death or choose to migrate to a place where you can get a job (Atleast you will be able to manage your food). Nobody in this world wants to leave his or her native place, but it is the situation that forces him or her to relocate. Every one of us wants a better life and migration happens in search of that better life. Big cities means better education for children, better job opportunity, better health opportunity and the scope to achieve the so called desired life. So the pin point is everybody wants a better life which leads to migration of one or the other kind.

Migration as a political problem

Some people often argue that migration is a politically linked social problem. People argue that politicians are responsible for the ever increasing problem of migration. They blame politicians for their ineffectiveness in proper economic planning leading to differences in economic development of various regions. Take for example, if the government had treated both Maharashtra and Bihar in the same way, perhaps situation would have been something different. People often argue that why the government is not doing anything to increase job opportunities in backward states that often force the people of these economically backward states to migrate. It has been widely seen that union minister’s tend to allocate projects in their native place/state and does not consider regions that genuinely require that project.

Migration as a resultant of the economic demography of India

Migration is a problem that has taken birth as a result of the difference in the economic capabilities and conditions of a place that is beyond the control of government. It is a well established fact that places like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi enjoy a long history of development (may be a century or two). It was but natural that after our independence these cities got priority and that is why these cities have reached to a position where they are now in. Now the advantages of these big cities are that they can provide large scale employment and better civic facilities, which attract people from other backward states to migrate to these big cities. It is also a well established fact that Mumbai was the economic centre of India from a very early period.

Another factor that affects the economic demography is the availability of natural resources. States with availability of natural resources such as coal, petroleum, mica, iron-ore etc attracts investment. Take the example of Jharkhand. It has 28.3% of the total natural resources in India and it is developing itself as a major industrial state, providing ample job opportunities for the native as well as people from outside. So it is clear that economic inequalities also lead to migration.

Advantages of migration

Though we always see migration in a negative manner, but there are various advantages also. The first and the foremost is migration increases employment opportunities as well as develop the local economy. Take for example Pune. The economy and employment opportunity of Pune is highly boosted by the migratory population. The migratory population brings with it a large sum of money, i.e. injected in the local economy. The natives earn money by providing residential and mess services to the migrants. A burning example of this is the area near by the private engineering and medical colleges and other educational institutes where cot services and mess services have grown up like mushrooms.

Another advantage of migration is development of a cosmopolitan culture that is very healthy as well as essential for the eradication of social taboos like caste system. This cosmopolitan culture also develops the feeling of unity among diversity leading to national integration. Due to migration, the primary culture (native culture) comes in contact with a secondary culture (culture of the migrant) and this leads to the development of a tertiary culture, which is popularly known as cosmopolitan culture. This culture helps in eradicating factors that are primarily responsible for the fragmentation of our country.

Disadvantages of Migration

There are various disadvantages of migration as well. The first and the foremost is the threat to the native culture. At the same time it increases competition for getting employment opportunities (However in real terms migration is leading to a situation wherein Darwin’s theory is applicable, i.e. Survival of the fittest). Migration also leads to social and economical imbalances.

Another advantage of migration is availability of cheap labour and the best brains for different types of work. This helps in raising professional standards.

Some tentative solution to the problem

1. Large Scale Government Schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme,Mid Day meal, Indira Awas Yojana, Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan are some of the landmark schemes started by the government for the development of backward regions. Now if a person is getting a job guarantee in his native place, then it is but obvious that he will not migrate. Similarly Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan is also providing free education to children along with mid-day meal. So these schemes are an attempt by the government to reduce economic inequality and help poor people meet ends.
2. The government should give priority to the development of backward regions. People migrate in order to meet their basic needs. Now if their basic needs are getting fulfilled in their native place, then they won’t migrate. The government should get into the root cause of migration and try to eradicate that.
3. Should look above politics as far as national interest in concerned. It has been widely seen that union minister’s tend to allocate projects in their native place/state and does not consider regions that genuinely require that project. This should be stopped at any cost. Transparency should be maintained while allocating projects.

It is time to rethink on the issue of migration once again and act accordingly. It is time that we give more importance to nation rather than region and it is time to again sing the song in full spirit

“Mile sur mera tumhara

…….toh sur bane hamara”