DESPITE the ambiguity that the heading might lead to, this is not about the Communist or other Leftist parties as the force behind a government, as in UPA-1. Here, we mean those literally left behind amidst population shifts. Previous editions of this column have pointed to internal migration — mainly from the east to the south, west and the NCR — caused by a combination of demographic and economic factors (“Demography-driven migration”, Civil Society, June 2022) and some of the consequent issues (“Being alone: The pain of one”, Civil Society, June 2023). Looking ahead, one can predict the amplification of the problems.
At first glance, economic growth rates in some of the states in the east seem robust, but these are on a much smaller base. Comparatively higher birth rates in the east result in a double whammy: the lower absolute growth is further negatively impacted by the greater population increase. Consequently, the per capita income is low: in UP and Bihar it is a third and a fifth, respectively, of that in the southern states. Despite the seemingly robust growth rates, employment opportunities in these poorer states are rather limited, especially when compared with the burgeoning population. The combination — lower per capita income and lack of jobs — is a major push factor, promoting outward migration.
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DESPITE the ambiguity that the heading might lead to, this is not about the Communist or other Leftist parties as the force behind a government, as in UPA-1. Here, we mean those literally left behind amidst population shifts. Previous editions of this column have pointed to internal migration — mainly from the east to the south, west and the NCR — caused by a combination of demographic and economic factors (“Demography-driven migration”, Civil Society, June 2022) and some of the consequent issues (“Being alone: The pain of one”, Civil Society, June 2023). Looking ahead, one can predict the amplification of the problems.