Demographic and Socio-economic Perspectives of Forced Migration in India: An Insight into Classed Vulnerability

Forced migration is very complex in nature and the problems of forced population displacement is not new and seems likely to remain one of the greatest challenges for India in the foreseeable future. Literatures shows that the vulnerability related to forced migration are common among certain demographic and socio-economic groups. This present study is an attempt to understand the demographic, social and economic class-differentiations related to it. The 64th Round of National Sample Survey (July, 2007 to June, 2008) has been utilized. Bivariate distributions analyses with Pearson chi-square tests and binary logistic regression model have been used. The findings reveal that specific classes are significantly associated with forced migration. Females, children and elderly are found to be mostly displaced. Minority religious groups and marginalized social classes like scheduled caste and scheduled tribes are also likely to become sufferers of forced migrations. Poor people are most likely to be affected by this kind of migration. No doubt, that in India, the distribution of forced migrants across different demographic and socio-economic groups clearly recognizes it’s classed patterns, and hence raises the issue of classed vulnerability associated with it. Policies should be aimed at these population considering different regional