MIGRATION
Migration is a geographical
phenomenon that seems to be a human necessity in every age. Since man has a
tendency to leave the areas in which life is difficult, he migrates to the
areas where life may be easy and better. Thus from their probable origin in
Africa, human groups had spread out to occupy all the major land areas of the
earth excepting Antarctica about 20,000 years before present, long before the
beginnings of agriculture and written history.
Migration has been
defined differently by different experts. Migration is ordinarily defined as
the permanent or semi-permanent change of residence of an individual or group
of people over a significant distance. It can also be defined as the act of
process of moving from one place to another with the intention of staying at
the destination permanently or for a relatively long period of time.
Migration may be
international, inter-regional, inter-urban, rural-urban or intra-urban. On the
basis of time criterion, migration may be temporary or permanent. If distance
is taken into consideration, the migration may be long or short. On the basis
of number, migration may be individual or mass; it may be politically sponsored
or voluntary. On the basis of causes, migration may be economic, social,
political or religious.
CAUSES OF MIGRATION
The causes of
migration may be numerous and these may range from natural calamities, climatic
change, epidemics, drought to social, economic, cultural and political. The
over population and heavy pressure on resources may be the cause of permanent
or temporary, and long distance or short distance migration. Many a time the
differences between groups in levels of technology and economic opportunities
also cause large scale migration.
1.Technology
People with more
sophisticated technology may invade and conquer new areas. Contrary to this,
less advanced groups may be attracted to the greater opportunities provided by
a more developed society. e.g. In the 14th and 15th
centuries, the Europeans had better navigation ships and they discovered
America, Australia and numerous islands of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian
oceans. They colonized and exploited more populated territories of Asia and
Africa.
2.Economic Causes
One
of the main reasons of emigration seems to be economic. Man’s need for virgin
land (for cultivation) has inspired him to migrate to distant areas. Due to
this reason many Europeans from different European countries emigrated to the
Prairies of USA and Canada. Non
availability of jobs and unemployment are also the cause of migration which
compel the youths to leave their home for places where employment may be found.
3.Overpopulation
An excess of population in an area in relation to resources
and available technology is known as overpopulation. Throughout human history,
migration took place because of the overpopulation in a community or region. That
is why, population of developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America
are emigrating to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, U.A.E, Canada, France, Germany,
Australia etc. to work as domestic servants, agricultural labourers,
technicians, engineers, doctors and
academicians. Each year, from India alone, about 3 lakh skilled and
semi-skilled people out migrate to other
countries.
4.Social and Religious Causes
The
human desire to stay, work and enjoy life with the people of his race, social
and religious groups is also an important cause of migration. e.g. Muslims are
moving out from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Due to religious reason some sections of
the population are migrating from their original abodes and settled in other
parts of the state.
5.Political Causes
One
of the important causes of migration, especially after the Second World War, is
the political one. Political refugees are a worldwide phenomenon nowadays. e.g.
Burmese refugees who migrated to India (Mizoram). The Muslims and Hindus
exchange, changed their places of abode due to partition of India and Pakistan in
1947.
6.Demographic Causes
A number of
demographic factors play a vital role in the migration pattern. It is the rate
of growth of population that determines the extent of population pressure in an
area. The great historical
movement of the Europeans across the Atlantic Ocean was an expression of
increasing pressure of population on the resource base of Europe. Similarly, in
India, the large-scale outmigration from the densely populated parts of Orissa,
West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, and U.P is due to a poor population resource ratio
in these areas.
7.Diffusion
of Information
The availability of information through education,
cultural contacts and spatial interaction also increase the chances of
population migration. The information network and cultural contact increase the
horizons of job opportunities. In India, the Sikhs are the most adventurous and
well-informed people, who migrate even to the less developed and less
attractive areas like Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Central
African Republic, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen etc.
8.General Rise
in the level of Aspiration
With the advancement in science and technology, new items
of comfort and luxury appear in the market and the level of aspiration of the
educated and uneducated goes up. Everybody is tempted to enjoy a better
standard of living. In India, the young men who were better-off than their fathers
were not satisfied, and so many sought to better themselves overseas. It is
mainly because of this reason that Indian engineers and doctors are emigrating
to U.S.A, Canada, and in large number unskilled and semi-skilled labours are
migrating towards Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.
9.Wars
Wars have been one of the important causes of human
migration. Wars have always involved upheavals, particularly in the regions
where these have been fought. The First World War (1914-1919 A.D) involved in
the displacement of about 6 million people, and the Second World War (1939-1945
A.D) involved the involuntary displacement of about 60 million people.
10.Government
Policy
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