Internal migration
Topic: Citizenship: Idea and Indian Law · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 6 "Citizenship"
Meaning
Internal migration means citizens moving within their own country, usually for work. The Constitution allows citizens to move and live anywhere in India (Art. 19(1)(d)-(e)) and to take up any occupation (Art. 19(1)(g)). Locals often resist migrants when jobs, land or water are scarce, as in slogans like "Mumbai for Mumbaikars". Skilled migrants such as IT workers are usually welcomed more than poor labourers.
Example
Census 2011 counted about 45.4 crore migrants, which was 37% of the population. After the COVID migrant exodus of 2020, the government introduced One Nation One Ration Card so that migrants could get rations anywhere.
Don't confuse with
- Illegal migration: this means foreigners entering or staying in India without valid documents. Internal migrants are Indian citizens with full rights.