With election season in full bloom, political parties have released their manifestos which among other promises, contains special mention of migrants. Take for example the Congress manifesto for upcoming assembly polls; it promises to double the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), improve infrastructure and provide better living conditions for migrants if elected back to power. Delhi, reputed for the large influx of migrants each year, is witnessing rising migrant population. It is an established fact that migration is one of the important factors contributing to the growth of urban population. The total urban population of the country increased from 217.6 million in 1991 to 283.6 million in 2001 registering a growth rate of 30.3 per cent (according to census 2001). The migration data indicates that 20.5 million people enumerated in urban areas are migrants from rural areas who moved in within the last 10 years. Out of the total 30.3 percent growth in the previous decade, 6.6 percent is accounted by migrants. Speaking of Delhi, it received the highest number of migrants from other states with 1.9 million followed by Greater Mumbai with 1.5 million. It comes as no surprise then that migrant population has found fervor in political circles.
At the other end, the party in opposition, i.e, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) raised the issue of the migration of workers from Uttar Pradesh to Gujarat in hordes at a rally in Agra. According to 2007-08 data available with the Ministry of Statistics and Planning (MOSPI) Gujarat ranks fifth (2,077,800) in the list of states with Maharashtra at the top (5,658,400). Although not the preferred destination, Gujarat also prefers prominently as a receiving destination for migrant workers. Meanwhile, migrants from Uttar Pradesh, the largest sending state of internal migrants have had their share of criticism in Mumbai. The city is the top receiving destination for migrants from UP accounting for 41 percent of its total migrant population.
All the above numbers are surely telling one thing clearly-the votes of the migrants does count.They’re not the “floating” and “invisible” population anymore. Their issues and plights will be played with-the opposition will use it for mudslinging and the party in power will use it for doling out incentives, to make them feel that they’re not being treated as ‘citizens without identity’.
A recent report by United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on inclusion of internal migrants in India speaks on the social and political inclusion of the migrant population into mainstream society. With the population figure expected to reach 417 million in 2011 from 309 million in 2001, the report is, needless to say, rightly timed in the sense that it has raised discussion in academia and polity. The report also advocates for provision of voting rights to migrants. It could be plausible that political parties have woke up in sensing that migrants could form the new vote banks. Recognizing the importance of the large number of their population, electoral candidates across all political ideologies are trying to woe them with promises. The plight of migrants has become a political agenda and their vote, a ticket to success. Facts and figures notwithstanding, what remains to be seen whether their vote will assure them of their legitimate identity.
Aritra Chakrabarty
As a social researcher, I believe in knowledge-based policy action. With a postgraduate degree in Development Studies, I've been associated with social issues in my professional space. As a part of SHRAMIC initiative, was involved with data creation, sourcing of resources that will become the knowledge bank of this project.
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