People and Migration

Key Points

• Hundreds and Thousands of people move to urban location from rural areas for education, employment and better opportunities.
  Migration arises out of various social, economic or political reasons. For identifying a person as a
• migrant, the Census uses two criteria – i). Birth Place – Place where the person was born. ii). Last usual place of residence – A place where the person had stayed continuously for a period of six months or more.
• In India, according to census 2001. About 307 million people have been reported as migrants.
• Marriage is the most common reason for migration of females. Employment or seeking employment is the most common reason for males to migrate.
• Dissatisfaction with employment opportunities in the native place, better opportunity for studies, loss in business, family friends are some reasons that people have stated as reasons for migration.
• A large section of rural workers migrate for a short duration and particularly due to distress caused in rural areas.
• Migration allows households to meet debt and other obligations without having to sell assets.
• Migrant laborers live in hash circumstances and in unhygienic conditions, they suffer from health problems and are prone to disease.
• People with technical skills and professional expertise have migrated to countries such as USA, Canada, UK, Australia and other developed Countries.
• The second type of international migration is unskilled and semi-skilled workers migration to oil exporting countries of the West Asia on temporary contracts.
• The Emigration Act, 1983 is the Indian law governing migration and employment of Indians abroad.

Key words:

• Migration: Moving of people from one place to another in search of employment and facilities. To move from one region and settle in another. Migration arises out of various social, economic or political reasons.
• Immigration: Migrated into and settle in a foreign country.
• Emigration: Leaving your own country to go and live permanently in another Country.
• Seasonal : Opportunities arise only for a few months in a particular season in a given year.
• Boarder : Staying in hostels for their studies.
• Boundary: Limits or Boards of an area.
• Border : The line that divides two countries
  Service Activities: Transport and communication, financial institutions and banking, insurance and administration activities.
• Emigration Act: The Emigration Act, 1983 is the Indian law governing migration and employment of Indians abroad. It also lays out conditions to safeguard the interests of workers emigrating for employment.