The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted human mobility and sustainable development. Chandil, Jharkhand, in India, is experiencing the impact of migration patterns and the fallout of the pandemic. This research examines the migrant workforce's composition, pre-pandemic livelihoods, and post-pandemic resilience. The study uses data analysis and a survey of 392 respondents to examine the pandemic's impact on migration patterns, livelihoods, and sustainable development prospects. It also highlights the resilience and adaptability of migrant workers, the construction industry's dynamics, and the changing landscape of internal migration in India. The research places Chandil, Jharkhand, within the global context and aligns it with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. It calls for targeted interventions to safeguard the well-being and livelihoods of vulnerable migrant populations and calls for a reimagining of policies and strategies to foster sustainable development and rebuild a more equitable post-pandemic world.
Top1. Introduction
India, home to a staggering 138 crore individuals, representing approximately 17.7 percent of the world's total population, also hosts a substantial migrant population of 45.57 crores. Census data reveals that India witnessed a notable surge in migration by 45 percent from 2001 to 2011, during which the total population grew by a comparatively modest 18 percent. These internal migrations within the nation encompass four primary patterns:
- 1.
Rural to Urban Migration: 2011 this category accounted for approximately 8 crores of migrants (Census, 2011b).
- 2.
Rural to Rural Migration: A substantial 21 crores of individuals (Census, 2011b) contributed to 54 percent of classifiable internal migration.
- 3.
Urban to Rural Migration: Approximately 3 crores of people (Census, 2011b) constituted 7 percent of classifiable internal migration.
- 4.
Urban to Urban Migration: In the same year, this category comprised around 8 crores of migrants (Census, 2011b).
Moreover, approximately 5.3 crores of migrants remained unclassified by the Census due to a lack of origin data. Notably, in 2011, a significant 88 percent of migrants relocated within the same state, leaving the remaining 5.4 crores as inter-state migrants. Figure 1 illustrates the inter-state migration in India as per Census 2011.
Figure 1. Inter-state migration in India
These migrations continue to be motivated by a myriad of factors, including urbanization, employment opportunities, security concerns, educational prospects, and environmental disasters. The pull and push factors contributing to these movements encompass economic, political, demographic, and social factors, in addition to existing migrant flows and stocks. Understanding the urbanization rate is pivotal in comprehending migration patterns, as it can influence wage disparities, labor demands, and the direction of migration. In 2011, India's urbanization rate stood at 31.28 percent, and while more recent data for 2021 is not available, this rate is expected to have experienced further growth (World Bank, 2020a; 2020b; 2020c).
Migrant workers typically find employment in diverse sectors, such as domestic work, construction, brick kilns, mining, textiles, transportation, agriculture, and quarries. Notably, the construction industry employs around 16 percent of the nation's population, equating to approximately 3 crores of individuals. This sector contributes a significant INR 200 billion to the nation's assets and accounts for over 5 percent of India's GDP. Migrants in the construction sector often engage in short-term migration, frequently involving seasonal or circular (repeat) migration, significantly influencing the employment landscape and migration patterns.
India boasts numerous construction industry clusters spread across various states, as depicted in Figure 2. These clusters continue to play a crucial role in employing both migrant and marginal workers on a large scale.
Figure 2. Indian construction industry clusters