Conclusion

This chapter summarises the key results of the Odisha Migration Study, and discusses the policy implications of this research. First, it underscores the salience of migration statistics and argues that up-to-date migration data, such as that collected by the Odisha Migration Study, provides a wealth of information for policymakers. For instance, in the identified migration corridors and high migration regions, specific policy interventions such as panchayat-level registration of labourers, enhancing the convergence of government schemes and services, provision of legal assistance, and reduction and elimination of the role of contractors in the migration process can be implemented. Third, given the youth domination in migration streams, skill programmes, and safe and informed migration programmes targeting the youth population through migration facilitation centres can be established. Fourth, the social and psychological costs of migration—in both source and destination regions—need to be acknowledged. Fifth, in precarious family migration streams, accompanying migrant children are the worst sufferers in the migration cycle; the government should initiate education, nutrition, health and other services for them both within and outside of the state. Sixth, safeguarding workers’ rights is critical in all migration streams, but in particular, vulnerable streams of migration such as Dadan labor and family based migration systems. Seventh, social security for migrant workers must be embedded in the policy architecture at destination states, where migrants contribute significantly to economic growth and development. And last, the chapter argues, that policy attention is also needed in the source regions, where, employment and livelihood opportunities need to be enhanced. A simultaneous push for rural industrialization, the development of the services sector and agricultural diversification can pave the way for stronger rural-urban linkages and balanced development in Odisha.