Measuring Internal Migration in India: A Comprehensive Analysis

The recent EAC-PM report (2024) titled "400 Million Dreams!" has highlighted a decline in internal migration rates to 28.88% in 2023, showing an 11.78% decrease since 2011. This shift signals key socio-economic transformations, requiring in-depth policy evaluation and intervention.

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Introduction
Traditional Methods of Measuring Migration
Limitations of Conventional Data Sources
Alternative Data Sources Proposed by EAC-PM
Challenges in Measuring Internal Migration
Government Initiatives Addressing Migration Challenges
Comprehensive Solutions to Migration Challenge
Conclusion

1. Introduction

Internal migration in India plays a crucial role in shaping its economic, social, and demographic landscape. According to Census 2011, over 45 crore people migrated internally between 2000-2011, accounting for 37% of the total population. The delayed 2021 Census has created a gap in updated migration data, prompting the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) to propose alternative methods of tracking migration trends. These include train ticket data, banking data, and telecom data to offer real-time insights into migration patterns.

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2. Traditional Methods of Measuring Migration

2.1 Census Data

Conducted every 10 years, the Census provides valuable data on migration trends.
Classifies migrants based on place of birth and place of last residence.
Census 2011 recorded 45.36 crore internal migrants, a 45% increase from Census 2001.

2.2 National Sample Survey (NSSO) Data

Conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) at periodic intervals.
Captures data on household movements, employment, and remittances.
NSSO 2007-08 (64th Round) estimated 33% of India's population as migrants.

2.3 Economic Surveys

Analyze labor mobility trends, interstate remittances, and employment patterns.
Economic Survey 2016-17 used railway passenger data to estimate annual migration of 9 million people.

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3. Alternative Data Sources Proposed by EAC-PM

3.1 Train Ticket Data (Railway Passenger Records)

Indian Railways data provides insights into migration corridors.
Key Findings:
- High out-migration from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
- Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat are the top migrant destinations.
- 63.8% of passengers in Maharashtra travel within the state.

3.2 Banking Transactions (Remittance Flow Data)

Banking data tracks income flow and savings patterns.
Key Findings:
- High remittance inflows in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh indicate out-migration.
- Increased savings deposits in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka suggest migrant inflows.

3.3 Telecom Data (Mobile Tower Records)

Mobile tracking detects population movement based on SIM card location.
Key Findings:
- COVID-19 lockdown caused mass reverse migration.
- Gradual return of migrants post-pandemic.

4. Challenges in Measuring Internal Migration

4.1 Data Limitations

The absence of real-time, comprehensive migration data affects policy planning.
Dependence on outdated Census data results in ineffective interventions.
Seasonal, temporary, and informal migration is underreported in official datasets.

4.2 Seasonal and Informal Migration

Agricultural laborers, construction workers, and domestic workers migrate temporarily but remain statistically invisible.
Existing datasets do not distinguish between permanent and temporary migration patterns.

4.3 Social Security Portability

Limited portability of ration cards, pensions, health insurance, and other social security benefits across states.
The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) is a step forward but still lacks complete implementation.

4.4 Urban Planning and Infrastructure

Rapid migration leads to overcrowding in urban slums.
Lack of affordable housing, healthcare, and education facilities for migrants.

4.5 Employment and Skill Mismatch

Migrants often engage in unskilled labor due to the lack of skill certification portability.
Need for employment-linked migration policies that align skills with market demand.

5. Government Initiatives and Implementation Status

5.1 One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)

Ensures food security portability across states.
Implemented in 37 states/UTs covering 99% of India's population.

5.2 Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC)

Provides rental housing for urban migrants.
Implementation progress is slow due to lack of awareness.

5.3 Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

Extended free food grains during COVID-19 for migrants.
Requires better targeting mechanisms to avoid exclusions.

5.4 Skill India Mission

Offers vocational training to migrants.
Needs improvement in skill certification portability.

5.5 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

Reduces distress migration by guaranteeing 100 days of employment.

6. Solutions and Way Forward

6.1 Data Integration and Real-time Monitoring

Integrate railway, banking, and telecom data into a national migration database.
Conduct annual migration surveys to track trends.

6.2 Enhancing Social Security Portability

Expand ONORC implementation for universal food security.
Introduce a unified national identity for workers to track employment and benefits portability.

6.3 Inclusive Urban Planning

Improve affordable housing availability.
Strengthen urban governance for better migrant welfare policies.

6.4 Employment-linked Migration Policies

Develop Skill Mapping Initiatives to align migrants with job opportunities.
Expand urban employment schemes akin to MGNREGA.

7. Conclusion

Internal migration is integral to India's labor market. A multi-source data approach is essential for effective policymaking. Strengthening social security, urban planning, and employment policies will ensure migrants’ welfare, economic stability, and inclusive development.