Bhubaneswar, December 20: The Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Bhubaneswar, hosted a landmark day-long seminar on “Regional Differences in Migration Pattern, Adaptation Behaviour and Wellbeing in Odisha”, bringing together senior Government officials, eminent scholars, and researchers to discuss actionable strategies for inclusive migration policies.
The seminar was held under the guidance of Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and NCDSC Chairperson, Anu Garg.
Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy, Prof. S. Irudaya Rajan, Chairman, International Institute of Migration and Development and former Professor, Centre for Development Studies, Kerala, Prof. Udaya Shankar Mishra, International Institute for population Sciences, Mumbai graced the seminar and shared their valuable observations and policy-oriented recommendations for addressing regional disparities in migration and improving migrant wellbeing in Odisha.
NCDS Director Prakash Chandra Mohanty emphasised the transformative potential of evidence-driven research. Based on a survey of over 650 households, the study delves into regional variations in migration patterns, adaptation behaviours, and wellbeing outcomes.
“Migration is not a problem to be solved, it is an opportunity to improve lives, enhance social security, and empower families,” said Mohanty.
The seminar’s highlight was the presentation by Dr. Sandhya Rani Mahapatro, Project Director and Associate Professor at NCDS.
Drawing from field evidence, Dr. Mahapatro described how migrants and their families actively adapt to challenges, yet remain vulnerable without adequate institutional support. She stressed that interventions targeting social security, housing, health, and livelihoods can create transformative outcomes for both migrants and source communities.
“Migration is a story of resilience, adaptation, and opportunity,” said Dr. Mahapatro noted.
Her findings revealed regional inequalities in migration trajectories and the need for migrant-sensitive policies tailored to local realities. The upcoming report, to be submitted to ICSSR and the Odisha Government, promises to provide practical guidance for policymaking, ensuring that migration strengthens rather than strains communities.
From the policy implementation perspective, Labour Commissioner Indramani Tripathy highlighted Odisha’s proactive initiatives and said the Government is working to make migration safer and more rewarding.
He also highlighted a toll-free helpline (18003456703), help desks in destination States, portability of welfare schemes, and the creation of a comprehensive migrant database for migrant workers.
Prof. S.I. Rajan, Chairman, International Institute of Migration and Development, stressed the critical importance of robust data in shaping policies.
Referencing Kerala’s pioneering migration surveys and Odisha’s own 15,000-household study, he underlined the value of “numbers in guiding evidence-based decisions.”
The afternoon technical sessions expanded the focus to include distress migration among indigenous communities, climate-induced mobility, corridor-specific inequalities, and informal sector vulnerabilities.
