MIGRATION FROM VILLAGES TO CITIES

                                

The country, for last over a quarter of a century has been facing a strange scenario of villages being empty and cities growing over populated. Previouly a lot of fuss was being made and that being rihtly so, over uncontrolled demographic rise. The planners complained that all their welfare projects were being infructuous because the fast rising population made them inadequate. The hectic steps and publicity appear to have restrained the pace. Whereas the population of all the four southern states has become stagnant, the scene, though improving, has yet not reached a satisfying point in the North. Juxtaposed to this big picture is another problem of demographic imbalance due to migration of people from villages to towns and cities which is baffling the town planners.

If we go into history, we shall find that before Independence, villages followed old feudal system in which the labour class people were very mercilessly exploited. They did not enjoy a bette treatment than the cattle of the landlord. Residing at the small plots of land of the landlord, they could never say no to any duty. Even the virtue of their womenfolk was in jeopardy. The payment for the day’s labour was in kind (food grain) and its weight depended on the whims of the land owner. If they fell ill, the entire family went on the street. Against this outrageous scene, when the country became free and communications improved, these farm workers started going out of the state in search of better payment.

 To start with, they moved to the eastern areas of Bihar and contiguous regions of West Bengal for a few months in a year for jute harvesting. The payment made them happy because they came back with some saving for the family. When they found better avenues elsewhere, they moved for wheat harvesting to Punjab, Haryana and western UP. Still they were returning to their native villages.Then came the age of huge constructions in cities like Mumbai and Delhi and their influx took route to these metros. Today, the minial work in these mega cities are done by the labour from Bihar, Rajasthan and Odisha. There is a new change. These workers started earning enough to change the life conditions of their families left behind in villages. Some years later, they built Jhuggies on govt land and started living with their families. This trend made the rural areas vacant and the cities receiving these unwanted guests. Some 25 years ago, the population of Delhi was nearly 50 lakh which today is 2.5 crore. All the public services like hospitals, transport, schools etc are crumbling under this demographic pressure. It is not true that the civic authorities have not done anything. The ever rising population growth is negating their efforts.

In this backdrop, the govt. has to evolve an effective remedial measure to stop this city-bound migration. For this the best way is to improve the agriculture on which even today over 70% people depend and establish factories so that the have-nots are not compelled to leave out in search of livelihood.