Migration from rural to urban areas - Suggest ways to handle!

Migration from rural to urban areas - Suggest ways to handle!

"If you don't have migration you won't be able to fill important jobs to keep the economy going." - Brunson McKinley. Migration - a discreetly spreading phenomenon; is seen almost everywhere, in all parts of the world. Migration is the movement of people from one place in the world to another for the purpose of taking up permanent or semi-permanent residence, usually across a political boundary. Humans have migrated from the very beginning from Africa to other parts of the world. There are various types of migration based on destination, purpose, etc. One of the most significant migration patterns has been rural to urban migration—the movement of people from the rural areas (countryside) to urban areas (cities) in search of opportunities. The reasons for migration are many and can be broadly classified as environmental, political, economic, cultural, etc. However migration has always been given a negative connotation and seen in a negative light. When people hear the word migration they always think of people coming and occupying. However migration is a deeper phenomenon with pros as well as cons. We need well managed strategy to manage the migration so as to reduce the damage done by it.

Suggestions to handle Rural to Urban Migration –

1. The first step toward making migration manageable is to understand why people migrate. It is important to analyze the causes and then employ specific remedies to correct the situation.

2. Also there must not be regional imbalance in development. All the areas of the nation must have development opportunities.

3. The rural areas must be given special attention while development so as to retain the population which migrates to the urban areas. All the basic amenities must be provided in the rural areas.

4. Better job prospects in rural areas will surely reduce the rate of migration.

5. Suburbs and areas around the city too need to be developed to accommodate the migrant population.

6. New cities and urban centers need to be developed to push the migration in their direction instead of already established cities.

7. Planned development of these new urban areas should include plans for accommodating any further migrating population.

8. People migrate as they do not have good opportunities near their home. Good colleges, jobs, business opportunities, technology, etc. if made available can go a long way in curbing migration.

9. The current cities which are under huge pressure from migration need better planning so as to accommodate the influx of people.

10. Also, we must reduce urban bias. One must realize that opportunities have led to migration. So if we create opportunities at various places, people will migrate there too. While doing so we must ensure that the migrant people are provided with basic amenities.

11. Decentralization of responsibilities gives decision-making power to the locals who have greater understanding of their issues and so are expected to make more appropriate decisions. Thus they can implement programs to develop themselves as well their area and help curb emigration.

12. In countries like India we find that rural population is mostly engaged in agriculture. However, their next generation does not find interest and profit in agriculture and so move toward cities for better options. Developing agriculture to make it a lucrative career option can help retain this migrating youth and keep them in rural areas.

13. Also one must address issues apart from economics too. Sometimes harsh environment can force a migration. At such times we must help settle this affected population in new areas rather than already full urban areas. By better preservation of nature and mitigation of disasters we can contain migration.

14. We must maintain law and order so as to keep peace in all parts of the nation, to avoid political migration like the ones happening due to communal clashes, etc.

"Migration is an expression of the human aspiration for dignity, safety and a better future. It is part of the social fabric, part of our very make-up as a human family." - Ban Ki-moon. This statement reflects the wishes and aims of the migrants perfectly. It is important to look at migration as a process and not as a problem. Migration as quoted at the start can help in economic growth as skilled people can fill important positions and contribute to the economy. However due to bad management, many skilled people are left unemployed. Better management of the migrating population and managing factors which lead to migration can help us utilize this phenomenon in a productive way without the inherent negative impacts it has on the society, environment, etc.