The movement of a person or people from one place to another is called ‘Migration’.

Migrants settle with the

intention of residing in a place permanently or temporarily. This happens due to a lot of reasons such as – Work,
Studies, Armed Conflicts, Climate, etc. Migration can happen between – cities, towns, states, and countries too.
People who leave their city in order to reside in another city/town of the same country are called ‘immigrants’.
People who leave their country in order to reside in another country are called ‘emigrants’
People who flee their city to reside in another city to seek refuge and safety due to political conflict, violence,
etc., are called “Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)”.
People who flee their country to reside in another country to seek refuge and safety due to political conflict,
violence, etc., are called “Refugees”.
Since the earliest times, humans have moved from one place to another.
While some migrate in search of better work opportunities, to join family,
or to study, others are driven to escape conflict or persecution.
The underprivileged sections of society often migrate to urban and rural
areas in search of seasonal employment as a survival strategy.
Distressing conditions in rural areas, such as extreme poverty, lack of
resources, and inadequate infrastructure, push people to seek better
opportunities elsewhere. Many rural inhabitants move from villages to
larger cities with hopes of securing a brighter future and higher
earnings.
However, some poverty-stricken individuals lack the means and
resources to migrate, leaving them stuck in their current challenging
conditions. For these people, the inability to afford relocation traps them
in a vicious cycle of poverty, preventing them from accessing better
living conditions and opportunities.
 Economic
Factors
Economic Factors Include:
Unemployment:
Structural: Mismatch between skills and jobs,
e.g., industry collapse.
Cyclical: Job loss due to economic downturns.
Political
Migration Social
Poverty: Push
Factors Factors
Income Inequality: Drives lower-income Factors
populations to seek better opportunities.
Lack of Opportunities: Limited access to credit
and markets pushes migration.

Economic Recession:
Financial Collapse: Leads to unemployment Environm-
and loss of savings. ental
Inflation: Erodes purchasing power, making Factors
basic necessities unaffordable.
Social Factors Include:
Lack of Services:
Healthcare: Inadequate facilities and access
drive people to migrate.
Education: Poor quality and limited
opportunities push families to relocate.

Poor Living Conditions:

Housing: Overcrowded, unsafe conditions force
migration.
Infrastructure: Unreliable services push people
to seek better conditions.

Family Separation:
Reunification: Individuals migrate to join settled
family members.
Environmental Factors Include: Environmental Degradation:
Natural Disasters: Deforestation: Loss of forests can lead to loss of
Earthquakes: Large-scale seismic events can livelihoods, especially for communities dependent
destroy homes and infrastructure, displacing on forest resources.
thousands or even millions. Pollution: Severe air, water, and soil pollution can
Hurricanes and Floods: Severe weather events can create health hazards and reduce the quality of life,
lead to immediate displacement as well as long- prompting migration.
term uninhabitable conditions.
Climate Change:
Rising Sea Levels: Coastal areas and islands are
particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, which can
inundate homes and agricultural land.
Desertification: The gradual transformation of arable
land into desert can reduce food production and
force rural populations to migrate to urban areas or
other countries.
Political Factors Include:
Conflict and Violence:
Wars: Armed conflicts and wars create dangerous
and unlivable environments, prompting mass
displacement and refugee crises.
Civil Unrest: Protests, riots, and general civil disorder
can create an unsafe environment, leading people to
seek safety elsewhere. Political Instability:
Persecution: Corruption: Rampant corruption can undermine
Political Persecution: Individuals targeted by the rule of law and public trust in government,
oppressive regimes for their political beliefs, prompting people to migrate to more stable and
activism, or opposition may flee to avoid transparent regions.
imprisonment, torture, or death. Weak Governance: Countries with weak
Ethnic and Religious Persecution: Minority groups institutions, poor law enforcement, and ineffective
facing discrimination, violence, or genocide often governance can become unstable, leading people
seek asylum in safer countries. to seek stability elsewhere.
 What is distressed migration? Has migration become a necessity?
People migrate to different regions or countries,
often from rural to urban areas, in search of
better socio-economic opportunities.
Many times, people are forced to leave their
homes due to extreme poverty, food insecurity,
health hazards, etc.
In times of extreme hardship, such as such as
conflict, violence, natural disasters, or severe
economic conditions, people have to migrate.
Distressed migration refers to this migration
that is fueled by urgent survival needs. In
today’s changing world, it is slowly but surely
becoming more common, and a great problem.
 How does climate change influence migration?
Climate change extreme weather incidents such
as – Flood, Drought, Extreme Heat, Extreme Cold,
etc. This forces many people to leave their homes
and reside in another city/country for better
weather conditions.
Climate change also impacts farmers, which
leads them to migrate as they can neither afford
to live in a region with no rain, nor afford to live in
a region with too much rain, as the extreme of
both the situations can harm their crops.
As our climate changes slowly but surely, it is
disturbing livelihoods and displacing
communities.
 What are the positive implications of migration on a child's well-being?
Financial Gains
Higher Living Standards: Families who migrate
frequently have access to better economic
possibilities, which raises household income.
Children may have better access to resources,
better nourishment, and better housing as a
result, raising their general level of living.
Greater Educational Opportunities: Parents
who earn more money may afford to provide
their kids with greater extracurricular
activities, better educational facilities, and
higher schooling.
Benefits of Education
Access to High-Quality Education: In the
country of destination, migrant children
frequently have access to superior educational
programs and institutions. Higher educational
attainment and improved employment chances
in the future may result from this.
Exposure to Diverse Learning Environments:
Children from immigrant households may grow
up in a variety of educational environments,
which can expand their worldview and improve
their capacity for critical thought.
 What are the negative implications of migration on a child's well-being?
Children affected by migration, whether moving
or left behind, often experience sadness,
anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm due to
the uncertainty and changes.
Migration exposes children to discrimination
and loss of familiar support, causing isolation
and emotional distress, and severely impacting
their mental health.
The process of adjusting to cultural differences,
language barriers and new ways of life can
leave children feeling scared, insecure, and
unsettled, and even create severe regressive
behaviors like enuresis and onychophagia.
Migration exposes children to new
environments where they may face risks such as
poverty, violence, and exploitation. These
dangers take a toll on their well-being and sense
of security.
Due to migration, children may not be able to
access proper nutrition, healthcare, and other
basic needs, which can affect their physical
health and overall development.
All of these complex issues created by migration
greatly impact both the mental and physical well-
being of children, and understanding them is key
to helping the children that face them.
 What are the policy changes that could help solve this issue?
Economic Development Programs: Initiatives aimed at
creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and reducing poverty
can help alleviate economic push factors.
Social Services Improvement: Investing in healthcare,
education, and housing can improve living conditions and
reduce the need for migration.
Conflict Resolution and Political Stability: Efforts to
promote peace, human rights, and good governance can
reduce political push factors.
Environmental Protection and Climate Change Mitigation:
Policies aimed at combating climate change, protecting
natural resources, and reducing pollution can address
environmental push factors.