Migration in Malda District: An analysis towards a better inclusion of Internal Migrants

There exist a strong relationship between migration and balanced development of a country like India. In India, the people freely move in terms of permanently or temporarily from one place to another for the betterment of their opportunity of livelihood in individual and family level. Internal migration not only involves much poorer segments, its impacts on the economy as a whole, on sending and receiving regions. It seems that the migrants and their family members have been lagging behind the inclusion in economic and social mainstream and policy initiative throughout the history. In this context, the present paper examines the nature of migration in Malda District, West Bengal and the social and economic inclusion of migrants and their family members, based on Census of India, NSSO household level data and field survey through household scheduled. The detailed study shows that the major cause of migration in the district is to search work/employment and most of the migrant from agricultural sector. Due to the implementation of various govt. initiatives the number of migrants has increased by 40% from 1991 to 2001. While, the migration of unskilled labour has also increased for the same time, due to low productivity and proper agricultural infrastructure at the area of origin. Migration has been going parallel to the growth and development. But, it should have flexible for households and individuals as well as economies and societies. It is required to be facilitated through a proper development strategy and a coherent policy.