Dr Manju Antil (Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist)

Dr Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj

Migration is obvious in all species, whether in birds or humans in the process of struggle for endurance. Human migration is one of the most momentous aspects of existence and through human record. It has been an audacious expression of the person’s will to conquer adversity in addition to reside an enhanced life. The word migration is plagiaristicplagiaristic from the Latin word ‘Migrare’, which means to move from one place to another. While the New Webster’s dictionary defined the term as “the act or an instance of moving from one country, region or place to settle in another the act or an instance of moving from one area to another in search of work”. There is no single explanation of migration because the concept of migration has been changing in chorus with time since the early days of evolution.

In the words of Hauser and Duncan (1971) migration is a movement across space between one geographical unit and another involving a permanent or semi-permanent change in residence.

According to the viewpoint of the United Nations migration refers to a permanent change of residence lasting more than one year.

Since very old migration has been a natural phenomenon caused by a variety of causes, aims and for various purposes. From the commencement of the 21st century with the initiation of globalisation the phenomenon has become brisker. Migration is the faction of an individual or a crowd of individuals, to reconcile in another place, often across a political or administrative periphery. Often repeatedly there are two important terms related to migration are used:

Immigration

Emigration

Immigration is said to have happened when a person or a group of persons move from other places to a new place to reconcile. These migrants are called immigrants. Numerous variables rouse migrants to withdraw from their living spot to another principle factors included are a hankering for monetary flourishing, to discover or participate in paid work to improve their way of life, family reunification, retirement, escape from partiality, strife, common or natural fiasco or essentially they wanted to change their expectations for everyday comforts or personal satisfaction. Pioneers, explorers and others here and now remains in an unmistakable state that doesn't fall under the delineation of settlers. Be that as it may, in some cases regular work movement is incorporated.

An emigrant is someone who leaves his/her country for another to labour or mends, whereas an immigrant is a person who migrates into a country, in decree to employment or settle, of which he/she is not a resident. Demographers scrutinize push and pull aspects for folks to be pushed out of one’s collocation and fascinated to others. A desire to flee from unenthusiastic conditions like shortage of land or jobs, or unfair behaviour is also involved in the process of immigration. The populace can pull the opportunities available somewhere else in their favour. Oppressive conditions in any nation may lead to permanent emigration of their countrymen. In the globalised world, migration has turned to be a multi-dimensional and collective phenomenon. Globalisation has been performing as a push and pull factor for both emigrants and immigrants with the introduction of free flow of communication and information technology and fast transportation (Parsons et al 2005).

Numbers of reasons are involved in the process of migration. These reasons may plunge under four areas and they are 

Environmental 

Economic

Cultural

Socio-political

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, the factors responsible for migration may also be ‘push’ or ‘pull’ factors. 

Push Factors

These are those factors that galvanize an individual to rehouse willingly but in many concerns, they are forced, since the being is in the menace of something if they reside.  Clash, Death, Famine, and Extreme religious activity are some examples of push factors. Poor monetary activities, be deficient in trade and unemployment are also strong push factors for migration. Variant strong push factors comprise caste and differentiating cultures, political bigotry and hounding of person who enquired the status.

Pull Factors

 Unlike push factors there are some factors in the destination country which attract the person to abscond from their home and these factors are known as Pull factors. One of the factors among push factors is place utility, which refers to the desirability of a place that attracts people. Superior trade and industry, Occupational opportunities, and the assurance of a healthier life habitually pull individuals towards recent destinations. 

Often people evolved some opinions and perceptions towards locations that are not accurate all the time, although gradually these thoughts became driving pull factors for that person. When folks grew senile and retired several of them scrutinize for collocation with pleasant clime, peaceful and restful spots to live their superannuation after a hard life span of physical exertion and investments. Such idyllic locations are also referred to as pull factors.

Push Factors Pull Factors

War

Poverty

Hunger

Environmental or natural disasters

Political instability

Discrimination

Economic depression Employment opportunities

Political and religious freedom

Study/academic opportunities

Family members

Quality of life.

Migration is a procedure of shift of home but not the house. Migrants do not inevitably shift their homes only for economic gains but social, cultural, political and ecological factors also play a crucial role in their decision to migrate. They migrate to new places in pursuit of better economic security, civil amenities and good surroundings of life for themselves and their families (Mahapatra 2005; Shah 2006:91). Most of the people are forced to depart their homes because of family conflict, paucity, idleness, small landholdings, indebtedness, natural disasters and manmade calamities, wedding, violence and/or repressive social, cultural, religious, political, etc. environment in the native place (Guest 1999:  Shah op.cit.). In the same way, better job opportunities with higher wages, high standards of living, cultural diversity, religious or political tolerance, peace in the host places, etc. act as a pulling factor for people to migrate. However, the search for economic betterment remains the chief motive for migration among the people (Rose and Knopt 1969). Such mobility of people is mostly dominated by unskilled or low-skilled young able-bodied males. Migration is usually esteemed by the labourers from rustic areas to the urban and it may be circular, seasonal or everlasting but is always differentiated from nomadism and commuting. It is not only limited to rustic, rustic to urban, urban to rustic, district to district, state to state but country to country as well. Every year millions of people but workers in a significant number and their families migrate unenthusiastically across borders and continents with a trance of reducing the fissure between their position and that of the people in other wealthier places (Black 2005).