Gender Dimensions of Migration in Urban India

Given the robust and growing economy, urban India is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of migration. However, gender inequality in migration is a hindrance in realizing the potential benefits of migration. Therefore, this study focuses on the gender dimension of migration in urban India using the data from two successive rounds of the Indian National Sample Survey. Bivariate and multivariate analyses have been used in the study. Results show that overall, migration of men is low compared to women. However, the recent trend in women’s migration is disappointing as the share of non-working women among women migrants has increased from 81 % in 1999-2000 to 85 % in 2007-2008 in urban areas. Also, percentage of working women declines when we compare pre and post migration work status of women unlike men migrants. This reflects a phenomenon of defeminization of female migrant work force in the recent times. Along with marriage, high income, high literacy and higher social status are other critical factors associated with women’s migration in urban India. 1 Nishikant Singh, Research Scholar, Center for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi110067, India. Email: nishiiips@gmail.com 2 Kunal Keshri, Assistant Professor, G. B. Pant Social Science Institute, University of Allahabad, Jhusi, Allahabad211019, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: kunalkeshri.lrd@gmail.com 3 R. B. Bhagat, Professor and Head, Department of Migration and Urban Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai-400088, Maharashtra, India. Email: rbbhagat@iips.net 2 Gender Dimension of Migration in Urban India Nishikant Singh, Kunal Keshri and R.B.Bhagat