MIGRATION

Migration – it refers to physical movement from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. An individual may migrate to increase one’s standard of living while people migrate in groups to set up a particular community. Sometimes people migrate with new hope and new aspirations (many people migrate to Mumbai to with aspirations to become an actor to do something big in the film industry).

An individual can migrate with his own wishes or he can even be forced to migrate due to various reasons.  Sometimes the community which migrates to another part to set up their livelihoods and may end up overpowering the number of people staying in that existing place. Migrants do try to treat their new place of living as their home and try to adjust and fit in to the existing, but sometimes they are not greeted well with the localities.  Migrants may outnumber the local community which results in a tiff between the two. Sometimes migration in huge numbers also results in the case of unemployment. The present situation of Mumbai is the same. The local parties are trying to drive out people who have migrated in the past few decades to give the localities more opportunities and to gain prominence which they have been losing in the past few years.

Sometimes forced migration creates huge problems between the people who are being force to migrate and the one who is forcing them to migrate. Forced migration happens due to a number of reasons such for re-development, for new town planning projects within a city, as well as some rehabilitation of projects. Forced migration may happen be for the cause of well being of the whole area (for construction of a dam) i.e. the localities or it can also be for the progress of the nation (to set up industrial estate).

Migration is a necessity for a place to grow in social as well as cultural aspects. With a mix of culture and the increase in number the economy of the place starts to build up which results in the growth of a place. A village starts to grow up to become a town and town moves on to become a city.

Every migration flow generates a return or counter migration. The majority of migrants move a short distance. Migrants who move longer distances tend to choose big-city destinations. If there is no migration then the life of a city may come to a standstill and you may not beable to see new colours in life.  Migration is a part and parcel of life and each individual does feel the need to migrate but may not due to various reasons. Migration is one thing which will continue and the people will keep migrating with new hopes and in search of a new livelihood in their minds.