Why in News
The NCRB ADSI 2024 data (released May 2026) shows that migrant workers face heightened vulnerability — higher suicide rates in destination states, occupational hazards, and lack of welfare access. Simultaneously, the India WIEGO study and NSSO Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24 confirm that internal migrants account for ~15–20% of India’s GDP through remittances, labour supply, and urban economic activity. This dual reality — economic asset, policy exclusion — is the central contradiction the editorial addresses.
Scale of Internal Migration in India
Key Data
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Total internal migrants (Census 2011) | 456 million (~37% of population) |
| Estimated current (2026) | ~550–600 million (extrapolated) |
| Circular migrants | ~100 million (seasonal, return to origin after work) |
| Inter-state migrants | ~65–70 million (NSSO estimate) |
| Annual remittances (internal) | ~₹1.5–2 lakh crore/year |
| Migration corridors | UP-Bihar → Delhi/Mumbai/Gujarat/Haryana (largest) |
| Migrant share of construction labour | >85% |
| Migrant share of brick kiln, textile, domestic work | >60–70% |
The Paradox: Economic Contribution vs. Policy Exclusion
Contribution
| Sector | Migrant Role |
|---|---|
| Construction | 85%+ of unskilled labour; ~$350 billion sector |
| Manufacturing | Textiles, automotive ancillaries, food processing |
| Domestic work | 4–5 million migrant domestic workers (urban India) |
| Agriculture | Inter-state harvest labour (Punjab, Haryana paddy) |
| Services | Delivery platforms, sanitation, street food, retail |
Remittances: Internal remittances from cities to rural areas sustain farm families, fund education, and finance local consumption — critical for rural development in Bihar, UP, Odisha, Jharkhand.
Exclusion from Welfare
| Entitlement | Portability? |
|---|---|
| NFSA / PDS ration card | No — location-specific; migrant loses entitlement at destination |
| MGNREGS | No — only at origin village panchayat |
| Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) | Partial — portability added but implementation weak |
| State social security (Rajasthan, Kerala pension) | No — state-specific |
| BOCW welfare board (construction workers) | Fragmented — 36 state boards, non-portable |
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban) | Accessible but requires address proof migrant often lacks |
One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): The most significant portability reform — allows PDS card to be used at any FPS in India. Rolled out 2020–2022. But coverage gaps remain (e-PoS machines in some states).
The COVID Exposure — A Policy Turning Point
Reverse Migration (2020)
- ~8–12 crore migrants returned home during the March–May 2020 COVID lockdown
- Walking hundreds of kilometres — became the defining image of migrant vulnerability
- Commission on Migrants (Supreme Court: Harsh Mander committee) documented conditions
- e-Shram portal launched 2021 to register unorganised workers including migrants
What COVID revealed
- No database of internal migrants — government could not identify, contact, or support them
- Exclusion from PDS at destination — returned home to no food support either
- BOCW cess collected (~₹54,000 crore) — largely unspent; construction migrants couldn’t access it
A Migrant-Positive Policy Framework
1. Portability of All Entitlements
- Extend ONORC model to Ayushman Bharat, BOCW welfare, and state social security
- Aadhaar-linked seeding of all entitlements → location-independent access
2. Source-Destination Corridor Approach
- Bilateral agreements between high-migration state pairs (UP ↔ Maharashtra; Bihar ↔ Delhi)
- Joint welfare delivery, helplines, transit centres
- Model: Kerala Overseas Workers’ Welfare Fund (for international migrants) — adapt for internal
3. Dedicated Migrant Policy
- Ratan Kapur Committee (2017) recommended a National Migrant Policy — not yet enacted
- Draft Migrant Workers (Welfare and Protection) Bill — pending
4. e-Shram Universal Coverage
- Currently 30 crore+ registered — but not linked to actual benefit delivery
- Needs: single welfare dashboard where any registered migrant can claim any entitlement
5. Urban Migrant Housing
- Rental housing market reform (Model Tenancy Act 2021) — migrant-friendly affordable rental
- Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) scheme — repurpose vacant govt flats
UPSC Relevance
| Paper | Angle |
|---|---|
| GS2 — Social Justice | Migrant welfare, welfare portability, One Nation One Ration Card, BOCW |
| GS3 — Economy | Internal migration contribution to GDP, remittances, circular migration, labour markets |
| GS2 — Governance | e-Shram, social security for unorganised sector, National Migrant Policy |
Mains Keywords: Internal migration, circular migrants, ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card), e-Shram portal, BOCW welfare board, PLFS, migrant welfare portability, Model Tenancy Act, ARHA, remittances ₹1.5–2 lakh crore, Ratan Kapur Committee, National Migrant Policy, source-destination corridor, COVID reverse migration
Prelims Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Internal migrants (Census 2011) | 456 million (~37% of population) |
| Current estimate (2026) | ~550–600 million |
| Annual internal remittances | ~₹1.5–2 lakh crore |
| One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) | 2020–22 rollout — PDS portability across India |
| e-Shram portal | Launched 2021 — registers unorganised/migrant workers; 30 crore+ registered |
| BOCW cess collected | ~₹54,000 crore — largely unspent (construction worker welfare fund) |
| COVID reverse migration (2020) | ~8–12 crore migrants returned home during lockdown |
| Model Tenancy Act | 2021 — migrant-friendly rental housing reform |
| ARHA scheme | Affordable Rental Housing Complexes — repurpose vacant govt flats for migrants |
| Ratan Kapur Committee (2017) | Recommended National Migrant Policy (not yet enacted) |
| PLFS 2023–24 | Periodic Labour Force Survey — key data on migrant workers |
