Page 1 of 6

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 03 Issue 13

December 2017

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 546

Urbanization & Internal Migration- Emerging

Challenges & Initiatives

Keshari Nandan Mishra

Associate Professor, Department of History, H. N. B. Government P.G. College, Allahabad,

Uttar Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT

Growing urbanization is an important social transformation that is taking place all over the

world, especially in developing countries. While cross-border immigration has received

considerable attention of the researchers and government bodies, the internal migration of

people within domestic territory of a country has not been paid much attention in planning

and implementing policies. Internal movement of people away from their usual place of

residence for economic or other reasons has been the major cause of growth of urban

centers. Rural-to-urban migration has increased multi-fold, especially after transition of

Indian society from agrarian to industrial to service oriented society. This phenomenon has

put existing cities under great strain in providing civic amenities to all the migrants as well

as ensuring respect of their fundamental rights as Indian citizens.

There is an urgent need to identify all the relevant aspects – economic, social, cultural,

political – related to internal migration. Strategies to be adopted by planners and executive

in ensuring social and cultural inclusion of migrant population need to be evolved. While

Government has taken some initiatives in bringing migrants into main streamline, there is lot

to be done still. Paper would also highlight the issues pertaining to women & children

migrants. This Paper attempts to collect details on above mentioned aspects and to stimulate

positive action from all the stakeholders.

Keywords: Urbanization, Government, Migration, Policies, Territory, Social, Cultural

Introduction

Last few decades of Twentieth Century

have witnessed a phenomenal wave of

transformation in various dimensions of

the human life. Technological

advancements, globalization, industrial

expansion, rising populations, and

aspirations for a better quality of life – all

these factors have given rise to growth of

urban centers, and prompted people to

migrate to urban locations which seemed

to offer better prospects. This has seen

wide rural-urban migration, putting strain

on urban centers.

It has now become necessary to understand

various aspects of urbanization and the

results of internal migration, in order to

evolve a comprehensive strategy to deal

with challenges.

What is Urbanization?

The process of society’s transformation

from a predominantly rural to a

predominantly urban one is called

‘Urbanization’. It indicates a large scale

Page 2 of 6

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 03 Issue 13

December 2017

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 547

migration of population from rural areas to

towns, and moving away from agrarian

occupation to other occupations.

In India, an area called ‘urban’ means any

human settlement housing more than 5000

persons, with a density of more than 400

persons per sq. km.; and where more than

75% of male population is engaged in non- agricultural occupations. All such towns

having a statutory Municipal Corporation,

Municipal Committee or Nagar Panchayat,

or Cantonment Board are classified as

‘Urban’ areas.

Growth of Urbanization in India (1901–

2011)

India's urban population has increased

from about 286 million in 2001 to 377

million in 2011, and is expected to

increase to 600 million (out of a total

population of 1.4 billion) by 2030 (Census

of India, 2011 and Planning Commission,

2011). For the first time since

Independence (1947), urban population

growth (91 million) has exceeded rural

population growth (90.5 million) within

the last decade (Census of India, 2011).

Reasons for Urbanization in India

The contribution of the agricultural sector

to the GDP of India started to decline and

the percentage contribution from

secondary sector increased. The period

after 1941, witnessed rapid growth of four

metropolitan cities in India, which were

Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

The nation's economy saw a rise due to

industrial revolution and the invention of

new technologies increased the standard of

living of people living in urban areas. The

growth of public sector resulted in

development of public transport, roads,

water supply, electricity, and hence the

infrastructure of urban areas.

The three main causes of urbanization,

common in Less Economically Developed

Countries since 1950 are:

1. Rural to urban migration is happening

on a massive scale due to population

pressure and lack of resources in rural

areas. These are 'push' factors.

2. People living in rural areas are 'pulled'

to the city. Often they believe that the

standard of living in urban areas will be

much better than in rural areas. They are

usually wrong. People also hope for well- paid jobs, the greater opportunities to find

casual or 'informal' work, better health care

and education.

3. Natural increase caused by a decrease

in death rates while birth rates remain

high.

Consequences of Urbanization

In recent years, several changes in India

are likely to have impacted on the pattern

and pace of migration. The pattern of

growth in the last two decades has steadily

widened the gap between agriculture and

non-agriculture and between rural and

urban areas, and it has steadily

concentrated in a few areas and a few

states. The growing spatial inequalities in

economic opportunities must have

necessarily also impacted on the pace and

pattern of migration. Uneven growth and a

growing differential between agriculture

and industry is a necessary concomitant of

the pattern of development.

Internal Migration in India

Page 3 of 6

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at

http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/

ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 03 Issue 13

December 2017

Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 548

Migration is a form of mobility in which

people change their residential location

across defined administrative boundaries

for a variety of reasons, which may be

involuntary or voluntary, or a mixture of

both. Migrants constitute a ‘floating

population’, as they alternate between

living at their source and destination

locations.

Free movement is a fundamental right of

the citizens of India and internal

movements are not restricted. The

Constitution states "All citizens shall have

territory of India; to reside and settle in

any part of the territory of India". Article

19(1)(d) and Article 19(1)(e), Part lll,

Fundamental Rights, The Constitution of

India, 1950.

Status Report

According to the report, prepared by

United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO), about

three out of every 10 Indians are internal

migrants. “Internal migration accounts for

a large population of 309 million as per

census of India 2001, and by more recent

estimates, 326 million (NSSO 2007-08),

nearly 30% of the total population,” it

says. According to the UNESCO

publication on Social Inclusion of Internal

Migrants in India released recently in New

Delhi, 326 million people (as per NSSO’s

2008 survey) — around 30% of India’s

population — are internal migrants.

Reports says that almost 30% of the

internal migrants fall within the age group

of 15-29 years. In India, migrants fall into

two categories: Those who migrate for

survival and those who leave their homes

in search of better opportunities. Internal

migrants in India are expected to touch

400 million in the 2011 census, over half

the global figure of 740 million and almost

twice as many as China's estimated 221

million. These internal migrants comprise

a third of India's population.

Constraints faced by Migrants

Being constantly on the move, migrants

lose access to social security benefits

linked to the residence. Migrants are

excluded from the economic, cultural,

social and political lives of society, and are

often treated as second-class citizens.

Internal migration seems to be a dominant,

often life-enabling coping strategy of rural

poor people in India.

Working conditions for migrants tend to

be exploitative and hazardous, with limits

on personal freedom, underpayment of

wages, long working hours, debt bondage

and unhygienic working environments.

Despite such degrading conditions

migrants are often willing to engage in

such work because the rate of wages is

often higher than what they would

otherwise earn in the source area. This

kind of migration pattern thereby is

tantamount to a coping strategy that

enables migrants and their families to

maintain their current quality of life, which

implies surviving on or close to the

poverty line.

Types of Internal Migration in India

Migration in India is primarily of two

types: