NEW DELHI: A national seminar titled “Illegal Migration to Mumbai: Analysing Social, Economic, and Political Consequences” was recently organised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). During the seminar a report prepared by Tata Institute of Social Sciences was presented which showcased how the Illegal immigrants have precariously overcrowded in Mumbai slums, putting unsustainable pressure on the city’s public services like healthcare, education, and sanitation, water supply, electricity.
While addressing the gathering Prof. Shankar Das (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean, School of Health Systems Studies) highlighted that it is high time that the people and the authorities wake up to this alarming situation. TISS Pro VC Shankar Das highlighted how immigration pressures India’s economic and social fabric, pointing to threats to infrastructure, population dynamics, and cultural identity. “It’s a great concern for the nation, especially for its economic opulence, population dynamics, health, and other amenities,” Das said, expressing concern about the risks posed to language and culture.
According to the report, prepared by Souvik Mondal (Asst. Prof., School of Health System Studies), Rohingyas immigrants are reshaping Mumbai’s labour market and demographic balance, igniting social tensions. A large number of these Rohingyas and illegal migrants from Bangladesh secure low-skill jobs. They seek employment as domestic workers and in sectors like construction and informal sales at very low wages thereby fueling resentment among local residents. A large number of these illegal migrants send remittances to their home countries, which not only reduces potential tax revenues for India but also impacts the nation’s economic growth.
Most of these people are working in sectors such as construction, domestic work, and informal sales at very low wages and that is fueling resentment among local residents. The report indicates this competition is a growing vulnerability, as political factions exploit it for vote-bank dynamics, thereby fuelling communal divides and adding layers of social unrest in the city.
Demographic Shifts Intensify Social Divides
The TISS report has highlighted that from 1951 to 1981, both total population growth and natural increase rose steadily, with natural increase peaking during the 1971-1981 decade due to industrialisation and economic expansion which decreased significantly by 2011, indicating a trend of slowing population growth influenced by socio-economic factors.
The male population consistently exceeded the female population, with a narrowing gap from 1991 to 2011 due to improved gender equality and job opportunities for women. Hindus represented about 90 per cent of the population in 1951, declining to around 65 per cent by 2011, while Muslims increased from below 10 per cent to around 20 per cent in the same period.
The TISS report highlights the city’s stark demographic shifts over recent decades. The Hindu population in Mumbai has declined from 88 percent in 1961 to 66 percent in 2011, while the Muslim population has risen from 8 percent to 21 percent in the same period. The report warns of projections indicating that by 2051, Hindus could fall below 54 percent, with the Muslim population potentially rising to 30 percent. This shifting balance, the report states, has fostered a sense of cultural insecurity among the Marathi population, with local residents fearing an erosion of traditional values and community cohesion.
Network Sustaining Illegal Immigration
The TISS study identifies a complex network that facilitates the illegal migration of Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals into Mumbai. A primary survey conducted by TISS revealed that 40 percent of migrants rely on family ties within the city to maintain their residency, while informal support structures help many others navigate local challenges. This network, according to the report, enables a cyclical pattern of migration that further strains Mumbai’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, Sanjeev Sanyal, economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, termed illegal immigration a global issue which has huge implications on politics, security, and the country’s demographics worldwide.
Sanyal highlighted the global relevance of the issue. “Elections are being fought on the topic of illegal immigration, whether we like it or not,” he stated. “It is now a global issue. It is a topic that is debated, it is an issue that drives electoral politics both ways, and it is an issue that I think ultimately needs to be honestly discussed. One of the real problems has been that, due to certain misplaced political correctness, this issue has not been discussed seriously, particularly in academia, where it was considered a topic that was to be sort of brushed under the carpet. But I think the time has come to have an honest discussion on this matter,” Sanyal added.
JNU VC Santishree Pandit echoed the concerns around illegal immigration. She urged the audience to understand the potential risks posed by unregulated migration. “Please remember, let us not be in a state of denial,” she said, stressing that unchecked immigration could undermine constitutional rights, especially for women and marginalised communities. “The constitutional rights and women’s rights given by Babasaheb Ambedkar to India will be at stake because those who come in do not accept that constitution. They want their own law above the Constitution of India.”
Pandit urged young intellectuals to understand the depth of Ambedkar’s views on migration and communal harmony. Quoting from Ambedkar’s work Pakistan or the Partition of India, she highlighted his advocacy for structured migration policies to ensure societal balance. “Please stop garlanding him and start reading him,” she advised, calling on citizens to honour Ambedkar’s legacy by safeguarding his vision of India’s inclusive, constitutional framework.
The TISS report calls for both immediate and long-term policy interventions to stem the inflow of illegal migrants, address employment imbalances, and protect the socio-cultural fabric of Mumbai. Without such measures, the study warns, Mumbai’s infrastructure may reach a breaking point, exacerbating both social and political volatility in one of India’s largest metropolitan centers.
