Chin Ethnic Migrants from Myanmar to India (Research paper, March 2021) )

Description

This research paper explores the migration of Chin ethnic people from the Falam area in Chin State, Myanmar to India and analyzes the reasons behind this movement. Migration is defined broadly as the relocation of people from one place to another, either within a country or across an international border. Across decades, migration has become a critical issue affecting Myanmar’s socio-economic development.

The study investigates why and how Chin people migrate, focusing on the push and pull factors that shape these patterns:

• Push factors (causes in the origin):
  • Poor economic conditions and limited job opportunities in Chin State.
  • Political instability and hardship affecting people’s livelihoods.
  • High levels of poverty and lack of infrastructure in rural communities.
  • Difficult living conditions, especially for those dependent on subsistence farming.

• Pull factors (attraction to the destination):
  • Job opportunities and perceived better living conditions across the border in India, especially in neighboring Mizoram State.

The paper finds that the primary drivers of migration are economic hardship and political challenges in the Chin region, pushing people to seek work and stability in India. The Chin migrants from Falam represent a significant portion of this movement, and their migration has implications for both the local socio-economic situation in Myanmar and the broader patterns of international migration.