Uttarakhand continues to suffer from migration of natives from the mountainous regions to the plains and from the plains to the towns outside the State.
The rising migration rate in Haridwar has elicited the focus of the department of economics and statistics which is now conducting a survey to ascertain the status of migration in Haridwar district.
As per the 2011 census Haridwar district population has increased from 15 lakh to over 19 lakh. The human population has been rising consistently after establishment of State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIIDCUl) and other industrial areas in the district.
It has been observed that many of the migrants are from mountainous region of Uttarakhand in addition to those from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. These migrants arrive in Haridwar mainly for employment purposes while the locals move out from Haridwar to other states in search of higher education and high profile jobs. It should be mentioned that in the year 2012, the economics and statistics department had carried out a study on migration trends from the district which revealed that most of the migrants had relocated mainly for higher education apart from factors like marriage and employment. For the first time this year a survey is being carried out for ascertaining the reasons for migration as well.
Assistant statistics officer Subhash Shakya told The Pioneer, “We conducted a survey on migration in 2012 which was based on migration trends only. Study of migrants was not included in that survey. But this time both the outward and inward migrants have been included in the survey.” Study is very important to know the economic and social status of the migrants and any change in the pattern, he added.
The district statistics officer A K Asthana said, “The district’s population has increased to 19 lakh as per the 2011 census. It is quite evident that the number of those migrating to Haridwar is more than those migrating out of Haridwar. The process of data collection is expected to be completed by March end,” he said.