Question

Mention the four causes of migration from rural to urban areas in India.

Hint:

When discussing migration, always use the 'Push-Pull' framework. Clearly identify which factors are pushing people away from their origin and which are pulling them towards the destination. This is a fundamental concept in migration studies.

Answer 1

Migration from rural to urban areas in India is driven by a combination of 'push' factors (forcing people to leave rural areas) and 'pull' factors (attracting them to urban areas). Four major causes are:
1. Lack of Employment Opportunities (Push Factor): Rural areas often suffer from disguised unemployment and seasonal employment, especially in the agricultural sector. Lack of diverse job opportunities forces people, particularly the youth, to move to cities in search of better livelihoods.
2. Better Economic Prospects (Pull Factor): Urban areas are perceived to offer higher wages, more diverse job opportunities in industries and services, and greater potential for economic mobility. This economic attraction is a primary driver of migration.
3. Access to Better Education and Health Facilities (Pull Factor): Cities generally have a higher concentration of quality educational institutions (schools, colleges) and healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics). Families often migrate to provide better opportunities for their children and access superior medical care.
4. Poverty and Agricultural Distress (Push Factor): Factors like fragmentation of landholdings, low agricultural productivity, crop failures due to uncertain monsoons, and indebtedness force many small and marginal farmers to abandon agriculture and seek alternative employment in cities.