International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Determinants and Patterns of Out-Migration from Urban Cities of Odisha: Evidence from Census 2011

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants and patterns of out-migration from specific urban centres in Odisha, namely Bhadrak and Bhubaneswar, based on secondary data sources such as the 2011 Census of India. This study uses a descriptive and analytical research design to understand the migration patterns in terms of destination, reasons, and gender composition. Moreover, it also includes the spatial streams of migration, such as urban-urban and urban-rural migration. From the analysis, it is observed that the out-migration patterns in both cities are highly concentrated in the region. In this regard, the Eastern region is found to be the main destination of migration, specifically in West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Moreover, there are specific differences observed in the migration patterns in both cities. In the case of Bhadrak, it is observed that the migration pattern is predominantly urban-urban migration, specifically in search of employment opportunities in other states. In contrast, in the case of Bhubaneswar, there is a relatively higher proportion of urban-rural migration. Employment has been identified as the major determinant of migration, especially for males, while migration of females is largely attributed to marriage and family-related characteristics. Overall, the study reveals that migration out of the city is influenced by various economic, social, and regional characteristics, with gender and geographical variations in the two cities.