Migration is a story of human struggle and hope, driven by the desire to escape insecurity, poverty, and regional disparities. People move from underdeveloped to prosperous areas seeking better living conditions and opportunities. However, this journey often comes with challenges, including victimization, trafficking, and exploitation. Millions of people migrate to Kashmir every year from mainland India in the search of jobs. This hunt for jobs comes at a very high cost most of the times. The living conditions of a lot of unskilled migratory population is miserable, unsafe and unhygienic. Child migration is growing, fueled by affordable travel, climate change, technological connectivity, and global inequality.
According to the 2011 census, 21 crore people migrated within India in the preceding decade, with most moving within their states. The Economic Survey of India 2017 estimates 9 million people migrated interstate annually between 2011 and 2016. Effective policies and services for seasonal migrant workers require accurate statistics and understanding of their mobility—areas where the Indian state currently falls short. Join us as we delve into the complexities of migration, its economic motives, and the urgent need for better policies to support those on the move.
