An Enquiry into Migration and Homelessness - A Developmental Discourse: Evidence from Mumbai City

Existence of structural and social inequality with growing poverty and shrinking livelihoods and other factors forced to people or entire families to migrate towards cities in search of means of survival. Some of them become homeless in this process. Various reasons play a vital role in homelessness, but the large number of people belongs to the migrant population. Most of them come from a rural area, due to many reasons such as unemployment, education, natural disasters, riots, violence, etc. Impact of migration and development is well known to academician, researchers and policymakers and there are various evidences available that put positive impacts of migration on development i.e. human development, economic development through increased household incomes and improved access to education and health services, etc., but with the migration, other issues are also attached. The present study is quantitative in nature and it comprises the evidences based on homeless people who are currently living in Mumbai. Among the homeless people, nearly 40% from Maharashtra and 60% migrated from other states of India and among them around 95% are migrated from rural areas while migration from their native place near half of them reported that they migrated with their family. Around 88% percent are working and among them around 38.3% are working as labourers followed by beggars 16.3% and hawkers 12.8%. Among them, more than 50% are earning below Rs. 5000 per month. Only one-fifth of people could send the remittance to support their family for family and other purposes. Majority of people are living in temporary shelters at roadside followed by streets, parks under over bridges, etc. which is more hazardous to their health, personal safety and security.  In this paper, some issues have been highlighted those aroused due to migration i.e. homelessness and their socio-demographic \u0026 health concerns. Findings of the study will be helpful for the programmes and policy makers, researchers, academician and social workers who are working in the field of migration and homelessness.