Migration & Development

Seasonal migration for livelihood among poor groups is a growing phenomenon in India due to rural impoverishment, rapid industrialisation, and urbanisation. The latest 64th round of National Sample Survey shows a figure of 30 million on internal migration from rural to urban areas. Schedule Tribes and Scheduled Caste groups are more prominent among such migrant population in India. While various estimates based micro level studies suggests that the figure of migrant workers is close to 100 million (~ 10% Indian population) who contribute more than 10% of national GDP.

Currently, India has few or no structural policies or programmes targeting the migrant issues in totality and this segment of the population still faces exclusion from the various mainstream programmes.

Disha Foundation is the pioneering organisation of India, working with migrant communities and government authorities to respond to contemporary challenges in Maharashtra and at national level. Please read more about our Safe and secure Labour Migration Support Program.

Disha's Advocacy efforts for addressing labour migration in India

Disha works with empowerment based approach, and aims to institutionalize migration into government system; to create pro-migrant response at state and central government through appropriate programs and policies.

Disha’s initiatives has some success in galvanizing the administration such as temporary food ration cards, education benefits to migrant children, grievance handling with Labour Department, developing health referral system with government health services, and creating pro-migrant response of central and state government to address migration issue in totality in Maharashtra (Mainly migration of SC/ST communities). But it is apparent that the administration will need pressure as well support while developing institutional framework for migrant inclusive programs till the mainstream of migration happens at larger scale.