Introduction

This chapter provides the development context of migration from Odisha and briefly outlines the analytical framework and methodology of the Odisha Migration Study. Based on secondary data and literature sources, it finds that despite high economic growth, structural transformation in the state is lopsided, leaving labor largely dependent on agriculture. The neoliberal trajectory in agrarian and industrial transformation has not improved employment structures, exacerbating human development challenges for marginalized communities (from caste, tribe, gender, and regional lenses). This has led to the persistence of poverty, food insecurity, and vulnerability, driving a significant portion of the population to migrate in search of work and livelihood opportunities. The magnitude of migration is pronounced in Odisha, particularly for communities from certain regions (southern and western) and social profiles (Dalits and Adivasis). The patterns and streams are extremely heterogeneous, but vulnerability as a common factor leads to migrants working in precarious working conditions at destinations. The chapter examines gendered, demographic, and climate-induced aspects of migration, while also discussing the repercussions of unsafe migration, such as trafficking and bondage. It assesses state and non-state responses to migration issues, including COVID-19-induced reverse migration. The chapter underscores the necessity of policies integrating migration concerns into development strategies, with a specific focus on marginalized communities facing intersecting challenges of gender, caste, tribe, and region. In sum, the chapter sets the context for the empirical analysis, based on the Odisha Migration Study, in the subsequent chapters.