Internal migration and life spaces in Delhi

Aslam Mahmood, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Migration strategies of individual’s are closely linked to their employment and residential strategies. In metropolitan areas where life spaces are scares, residential strategies take precedence over employment strategies. In developing countries urban growth takes place in metropolitan cities only. As a result there is a big competition for living space, specially in metropolitan areas. Like full wages, ideal residence is the also the ultimate objective of the migrants to cities. However, there is waiting time attached to it, during which a set of different alternative accommodations are available to the migrants. Such alternative residences in the Indian context are of the following types: 1. Squatter 2. Slums and Jhuggi Jhupri 3. Resettlement Colonies 4. Government Housing for EWS 5. Un-regularized Colonies 6. Urban Villages 7. Government Housing for LIG,MIG and HIG 8. Private Housing A small survey of these areas show education, occupational skill and duration of stay play an important role.