Paper short abstract:

Immobility studies within migration research are becoming popular. Yet such studies focus more on the drivers and less on the outcomes, not giving a holistic picture of (im)mobility. This paper analyzes the regional policy discourse on climate-induced (im)mobility in selected regions of Uttarakhand.

Paper long abstract:

The Himalayas are one of the youngest mountains in the world, with a delicate natural ecosystem. These mountains frequently make headlines due to the occurrence of disasters like landslides, ground subsidence, and cloud bursts. Among the many impacts of climate change is human (im)mobility. Disaster-affected populations either choose to move or stay back voluntarily or involuntarily. Uttarakhand in India has a history of out-migrations primarily due to socio-economic reasons, but climate migrants are emerging as a new category. The majority of the migratory events documented are from the state’s mountainous areas to its plain districts or to the cities in the neighbouring provinces. Every year, Uttarakhand reports anthropogenic disasters, which are further getting exacerbated by the ongoing state-led infrastructural development. First, we review and evaluate the significance of immobility in migration studies at the global and national levels, as mobility and immobility are co-dependent phenomena. Thereon, we conduct a critical policy analysis of the migration policies of Uttarakhand to understand the representation of immobile populations. Despite the historical out-migrations, the mobility bias within migration research is evident in migration policies, which mostly disregard the needs of immobile populations. We argue that incorporating the concerns of both mobile and immobile populations in the migration policy of the state could create long-term sustainable solutions and opportunities for the vulnerable local populations.