Labour In-Migration in an Industrial Cluster of a Hill State: A Case Study of Tehsil Baddi of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

This research paper is an exploratory work on in-migration of unskilled manpower in tehsil Baddi of Himachal Pradesh. The state has traditionally not been an in-migrating state because of its inhospitable topography. However, during the past two decades some areas in Himachal Pradesh have started attracting a substantial number of in-migrants from various parts of the country. This change in migrational profile of the state was a result of abrupt increase in employment potential which was facilitated by industrial package granted to the state in form of various subsidies and incentives. As a result, a number of industries have come up in different parts of Himachal Pradesh which utilize manpower of other states of the country; for native population is unable to meet the increased demand of manpower. An attempt has been made in this paper to study the various attributes of labour in-migrants in tehsil Baddi, where the volume of labour migration is supposed to be the highest in Himachal Pradesh. A total of 901 migrant workers were interviewed to bring out demographic, social and migrational profile of migrant workers. Results of the study reveal that migrant workers were mainly young unmarried males falling in productive age group (15-35 years). Substantial proportion of migrant workers hailed from economically backward states, namely Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Manufacturing and construction labour market were the two main sectors employing around 90 percent migrants. Other occupations which engaged migrants were working as domestic servants/ maids, helpers on shops/ restaurants/ dhabas, scrap dealers and contractors.