Paper short abstract:

This paper tries to capture the generation of Bengali migrant workers mainly from particular regions on one side and simultaneously failure to ensure their safe mobility in their country. This paper takes data from primary and secondary sources.

Paper long abstract:

The Bengali out-migrant workforce in contemporary India faces a complex web of interlinked crises, often described as "polycrisis." Driven by economic distress, unemployment, and agrarian challenges in West Bengal, these workers migrate to industrial hubs, urban centres and other parts of the country for better opportunities. However, their migration journey is fraught with multiple challenges exacerbating their vulnerabilities.

This paper tries to capture the generation of migrant workers and simultaneously preventing their safe mobility in the country. This paper takes data from primary and secondary sources.

One key aspect of this polycrisis is the lack of data on irregular migrant workers, often confined to informal sectors with poor wages, exploitative working conditions, and the absence of job security or social protection. This limits their access to welfare schemes, healthcare, and education for their families. Further identity-based discrimination and the threat of harassment marginalise them from access to services and integration into local communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic sharply exposed and amplified these crises during lockdown-induced reverse migrations. The crisis highlighted the fragile socio-economic status, prescribing the urgent need for systemic policy reforms.

This paper argues that the polycrisis faced by migrant workers requires a holistic approach that includes strengthening labour rights, enhancing social protections, promoting cultural inclusivity, and improving access to essential services. Understanding the interconnected nature of these challenges is critical for building a more inclusive and equitable environment for migrant workers in India.

Paper short abstract:

Everyday commuting for work is important for labour supply decision. While roads increase mobility, higher commuting time may offset the positive effect. We use Indian Time-Use Survey data to examine the relation between commuting time and labour market participation of rural men and women in India.

Paper long abstract:

Everyday commuting time for work (unproblematic mobility) may be an important determinant of market labour supply decision. Available evidence from developed countries establishes a non-linear relationship between commuting time and work time. Also, commuting time varies across household structures and home-production time. In the developing country context, it is found that availability of roads can improve the non-farm labour market participation, more so among women. However, longer commute time may add to the time cost, thus discouraging participation when opportunity cost of time-outside-home is high. Further, this effect may vary by education level, as higher returns to education may offset the higher commuting time cost.

In this paper, we exploit the comprehensive Indian Time-Use Survey data collected during 2019 to examine the relation between commuting time and (1) labour market participation and (2) intensity (hours), across gender and education levels of adults residing in rural areas in India. Additionally, we analyse whether Indian national rural road construction program (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PMGSY) reduce the commuting time and boost labour supply. Since PMGSY began in 2000-01, we expect travel time to be higher, and weakens the gender norms. This could accelerate mobility of the women in the regions with early access to roads. We control for such effects and exploit the cross-sectional variation in our data to understand the relation between commuting time and labour market hours. By employment we refer to both self-employment and wage employment, and test the relations empirically for each type separately.

Paper short abstract:

Kerala has prominent out-migration, with a total of 94% emigrating to the Gulf countries as their first place of destination, and this has repercussions for Kerala’s own labour force. This study explores factors influencing these migrants' length of stay abroad by using the survival analysis model.

Paper long abstract:

The Indian state of Kerala’s out-migration has repercussions for Kerala’s own labour force. Among the total over 96% of the Keralites migrated first time to abroad, where more than 94% of them emigrated to the Gulf countries as their first place of destination, and the length of stay varies considerably for the head of the household from short-term migration duration (38%) to a longer stay 15 or more years (79%) compared to other categories like husband/wife, married/unmarried children or other relatives of the head. Return emigrants are a demographically, politically, and economically significant segment of the Kerala population, so this study aims to explore factors influencing the length of stay abroad of these migrants. We examine the 2035 return migrants in the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) data of 2018. The method used is survival analysis- Weibull proportional hazards (PH) regression model. Migrants between 30 to 59 years of age had stayed longer than other age groups. The longer stays in the Gulf countries were significantly associated with large family size, being married, higher wealth, and personal education level. Compared to married, unmarried children spent significantly less time abroad. The ramifications of the long stays among the married people are that the unmarried children return to the Kerala labour market with language skills and education based on the Gulf systems.

Keywords: International Migration, Duration Analysis, Gulf Migration, Survival Analysis, Kerala Migration Survey (KMS)

Paper short abstract:

This study highlights the interstate migrant workers’ exploitation in Ludhiana and Faridabad, with low wages, long working hours, a lack of social security, and weak labour law enforcement, which led to limited upward mobility among workers.

Paper long abstract:

This study examines the working conditions and social protection of interstate migrant workers in Ludhiana and Faridabad, two industrial cities in north-western India. Based on field research of 150 workers (75 from each city), it critically evaluates the effectiveness of existing labour laws and social security mechanisms. It is striking that industries in both cities heavily depend on interstate migrant workers, mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - India’s poorest states. Most of the workers belonged to marginalised communities, including Muslims, highlighting the intersectionality of economic and social vulnerabilities. These workers are trapped in precarious employment, characterised by low wages, long working hours, and limited access to social protections. Over 85 per cent of workers reported working 9 to 11 hours daily, six days a week, without adequate overtime compensation, while only 29 per cent held Employee State Insurance (ESI) cards, leaving the majority unprotected from economic shocks or health emergencies.

Moreover, half of the migrant workers belonged to second-generation migrant households – either the father is/was a migrant or the son(s) is a migrant. Nevertheless, occupational mobility – from low-skilled to high-skilled work – has been limited across generations. At the same time, there has been mobility in most cases, where the second-generation migrants have managed to find better jobs with relatively higher educational levels or technical education. The study highlights critical issues, including weak enforcement of labour laws, wage exploitation, and the enduring informality in urban labour markets.

Paper long abstract:

Riverbank erosion causes substantial environmental, social and economic impacts such as loss of land, displacement of people, and disruption to their livelihoods, education, and well-being. While much research examines migration driven by natural hazards, why some households stay put despite facing hardship is less well understood. This research addresses this knowledge gap by examining the social and economic impacts of river erosion and factors behind decisions to migrate, focusing on erosion-prone Sariakandi Upazila along the Jamuna River and Harirampur Upazila along the Padma River in Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative surveys with qualitative focus group discussions. Households that had faced erosion recently and those that had experienced it in the distant past were surveyed. FGDs were conducted with the eroded people to gain qualitative insights into the impacts of riverbank erosion and migration decisions. Statistical analysis and thematic coding were used to examine drivers of migration decisions and resilience strategies. In Harirampur, 45.7% of those who experienced riverbank erosion recently chose to stay, citing financial constraints and attachment to home as key reasons. If households migrated, they did it within a village or union while those who experienced it in the past migrated across unions. All participants reported a significant impact of migration on children's education. Support during and after erosion was considered minimal in both sites. The research highlights the need for targeted support and resilience-building strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs that would enhance livelihood security and educational opportunities of households affected by riverbank erosion.

Paper short abstract:

The phenomenon of human (im)mobility is widely acknowledged as a result of climate change. We unpack this dominant narrative of (im)mobility as a consequence of natural phenomenon to bring back the focus on the skewed development policies of Uttarakhand.

Paper long abstract:

Unequal development policies play a significant role along with natural factors in the occurrence of climate emergencies. Although climate-induced movement concerns policymakers and scientists, there is a dearth of attention on the phenomenon from an all-encompassing viewpoint. We argue that migration includes not only people who move but also those who tend to stay back in their place of origin due to specific aspirations and capabilities. In a migration system, studying both decisions at the local level is important since they are co-dependent and frequently negotiated. These decisions are complex as mobility options in hill regions depend largely on forest resources vital to people’s livelihoods. Meanwhile, immobility alternatives are defined by strong place-based attachment, fear of new locations, and possible lack of opportunities. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and other external institutions also influence these decisions. To fully comprehend the decision-making processes within the migration system, it is imperative to analyse the interactions between all these stakeholders. Through ethnography, we explored the narratives of locals, those involved in adaptation and mitigation, and those who formulated and executed local development policies in the study area. This paper seeks to problematise the patterns of migration so as to assist inclusive policy formulation within the study area, namely the Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. This is done to accommodate better the migratory patterns, including (im)mobility within the policy-making process. This study is relevant to address the weak conception of (im)mobility in the growing literature that informs climate change policy in mountainous ecosystems.

Paper long abstract:

Since Cameroon’s independence, the socio-economic and political dynamics within the country have played a pivotal role in shaping the "diasporization" of several ethnic groups, with the Bamiléké community of the West Region emerging as a dominant force within the contemporary Cameroonian diaspora. A sociological examination of this diaspora reveals that the ethnicization of the political landscape, coupled with systemic socioeconomic marginalization and governance policies enacted over the past several decades, has significantly propelled the diasporic movements of this community. This paper offers a critical exploration of the transformative nature of mobility within the Bamiléké diaspora, analyzing how migration practices have evolved in tandem with shifts in the socio-political and economic landscape of Cameroon. The paper traces the historical trajectory of Bamiléké migration, spanning from the forced labor conditions during the colonial period to the voluntary diaspora movements observed in the post-independence era. Furthermore, the paper contextualizes the migration patterns of Bamiléké within the broader framework of the 1980s economic crisis and the subsequent political climate of the 1990s, which reshaped migration routes and presented both challenges and new opportunities for the diaspora. These mobility shifts are not framed merely as crises; rather, they are understood as adaptive responses to the evolving socio-political environment. The study asserts that migration should be recognized as an essential, ongoing aspect of human life and flourishing, particularly in the Global South, rather than as a mere consequence of crisis or a problem to be managed.

Paper short abstract:

This paper draws on a rich body of mobilities literature concerning Uganda’s borderlands to closely examine how the interventions of humanitarian and government actors fundamentally shape and reshape the rhythms of everyday movement for South Sudanese individuals currently living in displacement.

Paper long abstract:

Rich anthropological work in Uganda's border regions has highlighted the uneven, practical, everyday qualities of mobilities that persist before, during, and after moments of crisis-induced displacement. This paper builds on this legacy to closely examine the ways that bureaucratic interventions of humanitarian and government actors fundamentally shape and reshape the rhythms of everyday movement for South Sudanese individuals living in displacement. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in northwestern Uganda (2022-2024), it explores the mobilities that contour life for South Sudanese people in Uganda.

In Uganda, refugees living outside formally designated refugee settlements are deemed ‘self-reliant’. However, contrary to conventional assumptions of economic self-sufficiency, South Sudanese individuals continue to travel to Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement regularly to maintain their connections to the humanitarian development infrastructure. Employing a mobile method, this research provides a rich, contextually grounded account of these movements. The paper focuses on two extended case studies: the monthly distribution of general food and cash assistance and an individual profiling exercise (IPE). For South Sudanese people registered as refugees in Uganda, these events determine both short-term and long-term access to ongoing material assistance, ultimately producing particular rhythms of movement between the city and the settlement. Engaging with insights from critical migration scholars, the paper examines how the demands of the humanitarian-development response infrastructure shape movements, having wide-ranging impacts on the daily lives of South Sudanese people in West Nile.

Paper short abstract:

This study explores how migrants from Africa and Asia adjust their views on disability after experiencing more inclusive policies in the UK. Findings aim to promote cross-cultural dialogue and support enhanced disability inclusion in both the UK and Commonwealth nations.

Paper long abstract:

In recent years, the UK has seen a significant influx of legal migrants from Commonwealth countries in Africa and Asia. Many of these migrants have experienced disability services in their home countries as charitable rather than as rights, leading to stigma that hinders access to education, employment, and social participation for people with disabilities (PWDs). Transitioning to the UK presents new opportunities for understanding disability and inclusion. However, little research has explored how migrants' views on disability may shift when they encounter better institutional inclusion frameworks in industrialised societies. This study investigates how these new experiences influence migrants' perceptions of disability and PWDs and how this might contribute to advocacy for enhanced inclusion and accessibility in their home countries. This study will look at how migrants from Asia and Africa feel about disability in the UK by using focus groups and surveys to find out what they already think and how disability policies in the UK have changed their views. Findings from this study seek to promote cross-cultural dialogue that can enhance equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives in both the UK and Commonwealth nations, challenging stigma and advocating for more inclusive practices.

Paper short abstract:

This paper challenges the securitisation of migration in development, arguing that mobility is an embedded social phenomenon rather than crisis. Drawing on theoretical advances and case studies, we demonstrate how security framings obscure migration's transformative role in development.

Paper long abstract:

Migration is increasingly framed through a securitisation lens, portraying human mobility as a destabilising force, particularly in the context of climate change and sustainable development. This paper challenges dominant crisis narratives by examining how security-oriented framings restrict understanding of migration’s role in development processes. Drawing on recent evidence and theoretical advances, it reframes migration as an embedded social phenomenon shaped by individual capabilities, aspirations, and intersecting socio-economic and environmental pressures, rather than simply a reactive response to crises. The analysis critiques securitisation discourses, which rely on alarming displacement projections and economic cost narratives, leading to restrictive policies that marginalise migrants and overlook their contributions to sustainable development. Instead, migration is presented as a continuum, encompassing forced displacement, proactive adaptation strategies, and voluntary immobility, each reflecting agency and resilience. Utilising case studies from the sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the paper highlights migration’s transformative potential, demonstrating how it drives demographic shifts, economic diversification, and resource redistribution in both origin and destination areas. It also emphasises the significance of immobility as a deliberate choice, challenging assumptions that vulnerable populations inevitably seek to leave risky areas. By moving beyond securitisation, this paper argues for a reframing of migration as an ordinary and constructive aspect of social and economic transformation. It calls for development policies that support both mobility and immobility while enhancing migrants’ capacities to contribute to sustainable development outcomes.

Paper short abstract:

This ethnographic paper politicizes our understanding of the migration & development nexus by moving beyond win-win-win characterizations and examining instead the contradictory relation between migration crisis and structural, institutional and situated processes of uneven and combined development.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation will examine some of the key tenets and contradictions that define the policy consensus on the migration and development nexus as well as the fantasies associated with win-win-win policy scenarios, in the context of the so-called European migration crisis. I will first discuss how recent initiatives have reversed the ways in which policy makers conceive of such relationship: rather than harnessing migration to improve development prospects, it is development that is now harnessed as a way of reducing migration. I will then seek to move beyond such simplistic conceptualizations through a case study, which complicates simplistic notions of development as a cause of migration or a symptom of development failures. The paper draws from ethnographic evidence collected over ten months in asylum seekers reception centres in a central Italian province to illustrate how three distinct development processes reverberate in their rooms: processes of combined and uneven capitalist development, i.e. the structural context in which migration to Europe takes place; processes of uneven incorporation of European peripheries, i.e. the institutional context that modulates inter- and intra-European space and beyond; processes related to the uneven incorporation of Italian regions into the national space, the situated context where M&D dynamics articulate with each other. On these bases, the paper suggests that the real M&D nexus is a political one. It is about more equitable forms of development, freedom of movement, and the eradication of inequalities beyond and across the migrant/non-migrant divide.

Paper short abstract:

Migration plays a fundamental role in development but it is neglected in much of development studies outside the specialists on the migration-development nexus. I explore the impact of this neglect, especially for those in some poor regions whose livelihoods are shaped by mobility in some form.

Paper long abstract:

The movement of people between places around world has always played a fundamental role in the development of human society. In the first part of this paper, I argue that over the last twenty years the analysis of this relationship between mobility and development has been largely captured by a narrow mini-industry shaped by migration specialists. Since the turn of the century there has been an important pivot in academic and policy debates from interest migration’s contribution to development towards looking at development’s role in managing migration. This has been facilitated by the way in which migration has been incorporated into the global development agenda. As a result, the everyday mobility and migration that underpins people’s lives and livelihoods in every part of the world tends to be neglected, unless it is associated with a migration problem.

In the second half of the paper, I will explore some of the damaging consequences of this neglect. First, I suggest that it is hard to envisage any development process that does not entail some change in mobility patterns, whether stimulating (or forcing) new movements, or curtailing the need or opportunities for them. Second, I will show that internal and international mobility, often unnoticed and unproblematic, underpins the lives of millions of people in some of the poorest regions of the world. The neglect of mobility by development actors and analysts means they are flying blind when it comes to this critical aspect of people’s current and future lives.