ABSTRACT
Migration is a significant component of population growth of cities in developing countries. People migrate from rural areas to urban areas for better job opportunities, better education and health facilities, and means of livelihood. The objective of the present chapter is to explore the contribution of migration in the urbanization process and also to find spatial variation in the major reasons for migration and urbanization among the states of India. The chapter is based on Census of India (2001, 2011). Descriptive analysis and mapping indicate that over a period, the level of urbanization has increased, but the spatial pattern of urbanization varies across the states of India. The change in level of urbanization is more than 10 percent in the states of Goa, Kerala, Nagaland, and Sikkim during the years 2001 and 2011. The share of migration in growth of urban population has increased substantially (more than 20 percent) in some of the union territories and states, namely Daman and Diu, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Island, Delhi, Gujarat, Mizoram, and Sikkim. However, there has been a decline in some of the major states, such as Madhya Pradesh (44 percent), Jammu and Kashmir (24 percent), Manipur (22 percent), and Nagaland (22 percent). The major reason for migration was work or employment, followed by marriage and moving with households. This chapter finds that rural to urban migration plays a significant role in the growth of urban population. Further, there exists spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of the urban population and pattern of rural to urban migration among states of India.
