Northeast districts have specific migration corridors for southern Indian jobs
A survey by Seven Sisters Development Assistance shows migrants from eight districts follow distinct routes to find work in southern India.
A survey across 14 administrative blocks in eight districts of three northeastern states reveals that each studied district has its own migration corridor for jobs in southern India, according to The Hindu. The study, conducted by the Guwahati-headquartered non-profit Seven Sisters Development Assistance, covered 693 households across five districts in Assam, two in Meghalaya, and one in Tripura.
The survey found that 72.6 per cent of migrants work outside their home state through well-worn corridors. Karnataka is the top destination with 22.7 per cent of the outflow, followed by Assam at 22.3 per cent, Tamil Nadu at 13.8 per cent, and Kerala at 10.1 per cent. Among the southern states, Telangana is the least preferred destination at 4.5 per cent.
The research analysed 705 migration records, noting that 88 per cent of those surveyed cited a lack of work in their villages as a reason for leaving. Additionally, 91 per cent named push factors such as land shortages or the need to repay loans. Pull factors included better living conditions for 40 per cent, better jobs for 36 per cent, and higher wages for 26 per cent.
Most migrants are young males, with women making up 12 per cent of the listed migrants and 60 per cent of those listed being aged 30 or under. The median monthly earning is ₹15,000, and 86.5 per cent of migrants earn ₹20,000 or less. On average, each worker spends ₹7,000 a month on food, healthcare, and education.
The study found that 70 per cent of migrants found work through family or friends, while only 6 per cent applied directly to an employer. About 88 per cent of households said migrants would stay in their villages if viable local livelihoods were available, with 70 per cent naming local enterprise as the most likely option to keep them.