How to ease the migration pressure on India's cities

THE FACTORS DRIVING PEOPLE OUT FROM CITIES REMAIN UNCHANGED: DESPITE THE SMART CITIES MISSION, MANY OF THE METROS AND LARGER CITIES ARE REACHING THEIR BREAKING POINT

- Anjuli Bhargava

For some years now, Goa has been reeling under an influx of settlers who found Indian metros unlivable and now work in the gig economy or are retired. While this trend picked up post-2000, the trickle intensified into a flood after the pandemic, leading to a surge in the cost of living for locals including housing costs and other social and economic repercussions that are still being dealt with.

A similar reverse migration to Uttarakhand and, to a smaller extent, Himachal Pradesh was seen in the last decade, with the former seeing a bigger influx as land ownership rules there are more flexible than the latter. While these states are learning to live with this influx, the factors driving people out from cities remain unchanged: Despite the Smart Cities Mission, many of the metros and larger cities are reaching their breaking point.

Given that there are no quick-fix solutions to reducing the load on cities and ensuring that the steady trickle of exits doesn't turn into a flood, it might be a good idea for the government to actively look at ways to stem the migration of rural youth to cities in search of livelihood and employment.