Pattern and Process of Population Migration in Assam

Abstract

Human migration is a process of permanent or semi permanent change in usual residence of an individual or a group of people from one geographical area to another. Assam, a land with fertile soil and rich natural resources, attracts a large volume of migrants from both within and outside the country throughout the ages. The process and volume of internal migration, interstate migration and immigration contribute significant change of demographic structure of the state. As per 2001 Census, the volumes of inter-state migration and immigration in the region had been 5,15,924 (1.93 per cent of the total population) and 1,89,964 (0.71 per cent of the total population) as compared to total internal migrants of 59,21,753 (22.21 per cent of the total population) in the state. The nature and dimensions of migration in the state, however, vary both spatially and temporally depending on the processes of development activities and reasons behind migration. The study is primarily based on secondary data obtained from Census of India volumes for the year 1991 and 2001. The data so obtained have been analysed with meaningful statistical techniques and presented with suitable cartographic techniques.