Answer:

Internal migration can be defined as the movement of people from one state to another or from one region to another in search of employment opportunities, better life conditions etc. The trend in India shows that among many factors playing role in internal migration growing spatial inequalities in economic opportunities have significantly impacted the pace and pattern of internal migration in India which can be established as follows:

♤ From lesser developed states to more developed states. Among the major losers, where out-migration has been more than in-migration are Andhra-Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, TN, UP and West Bengal. In contrast, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and all Union Territories have gained.

♤ The growing spatial inequalities in terms of industrialization, better infrastructure, work opportunities, schools, colleges etc. are working as major pull factors.

♤ Less developed states and BIMARU states are facing agrarian distress and populations are more vulnerable to natural hazards like crop failure, flood etc. in comparison to the developed states.

Challenges that have been arising due to high internal migration:

♤ Demographic and social challenges: It changes age composition and skewed sex ratios. Also, it leads to social vacuum and dejection leading to crime and drug abuse.

♤ Economic challenges: Most of migrants are adjusted in informal sectors.

♤ Huge pressure on infrastructure: Huge pressure on infrastructure such as transport, water etc. creating difficulty on part of government in providing basics

♤ Proliferation of slums distorting landscape and planned infrastructure of urban areas.

♤ Feminization of agriculture and paucity of agricultural labour.

♤ Environmental: Pollution, over exploitation of resources and encroachment on agricultural and forest lands.

♤ Cultural: Lack of cohesion, backlash from the natives. Steps that can be taken to tackle these problems:

♤ Revitalizing the rural economy with focus on agriculture, agro-based industries and through various initiatives on the line of MGNREGA, as studies show that male out migration from rural areas have declined after its implementation

♤ Providing low cost houses in urban areas so that slums can be eradicated

♤ Formulation of migration policies linked with employment and well-being of the migrant living in urban areas.

♤ Development of tier 2 and tier 3 cities to divert migration.