Report of the Working Group on Migration (Report Summary)

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation had constituted a Working Group to assess the impact of migration on housing, infrastructure, and livelihoods in July 2015. The terms of reference of the Group included:

i.        reviewing the trend of migration in India and its impact on urban areas, rural areas and smaller towns,

ii.      analysing the impact of migration on housing, infrastructure, livelihoods and the economy, and

iii.    analysing migration trends across various economic groups.

The Group submitted its report in January 2017. Key observations and recommendations of the Group include:

Migration: As per Census 2011, migration in India is majorly between rural to rural areas (47.4%), followed by urban to urban areas (22.6%), rural to urban areas (22.1%), and urban to rural areas (7.9%). Between Census 2001 and 2011, rural to urban migration increased marginally from 21.8% to 22.1%, and urban to urban migration increased from 15.2% to 22.6%.

Reasons for migration: The share of family related migration (marriage) has increased from 28% to 36% (as share of total migrants) between Census 2001 and 2011. While 87% women migrants move due to family related reasons, for men this share is 36%. 50% of men move due to work. The share of workrelated migration decreased from 16% to 13% between Census 2001 and 2011. However, the Group noted that in terms of absolute numbers work-related migrants increased from 5.7 million to 6.9 million for rural areas and from 2.8 million to 4.8 million for urban areas.

Migrant workforce: In urban areas, about 33% of the male workforce, and 56% of the female workforce is composed of migrant workers. The Group also noted that the stereotype of migrants as being relatively lower income is not true. In both urban and rural areas, about 31% of all migrant workers are in the top consumption quintile (one-fifth). In urban areas about 62% of all migrant workers are in the top consumption quintile.

Nature of jobs: In urban areas, 33% of the male migrants work in traditional services (wholesale and retail trade, hotels, transport), followed by 27% in manufacturing, and 16% in modern services (real estate, education, health). Among female migrants in urban areas, 34% work in public services (public administration, railways, postal services), followed by 23% in manufacturing. In rural areas, 37% of the male migrants are employed in primary jobs (agriculture, fishing, mining), followed by 20% in traditional jobs. Among female migrants in rural areas, 84% are employed in primary jobs.

Access to employment: The Group noted that certain states have introduced domicile requirements with regard to employment. This puts migrants at a disadvantage. The Group recommended that states should remove such domicile requirements, and other laws specifically looking at inter-state migration. It also recommended a review of the existing legislative framework and providing basic guarantees on wage and work conditions for all workers. A comprehensive law should be brought in for the unorganised sector workers, which could also provide social protection to such workers.

Access to benefits: The Group noted that one of the key issues is that migrants are registered to claim legal and social entitlements (such as PDS) at their source location. Post migration, they lose access to these benefits at the destination. The Group recommended that PDS should be made portable, and expanded to extend coverage to migrants.

Housing: One of the key issues with regard to housing is poor supply, for both ownership and rental. Short-term migrants do not have access to short-duration accommodation. The Group recommended:

i.         expansion of basic services (water supply, electricity) to all settlements,

ii.       provision of wide variety of rental accommodation,

iii.    provision of dormitories and working women’s hostels.

Source: www.prsindia.org