On the Move Again — Class 5 EVS (CBSE)
Based on the NCERT Looking Around Grade 5 textbook. Understand why millions of families migrate for work, then solve the practice set.
1. Why this chapter matters
Every year, millions of families in India leave their villages and travel to other places for work. They work on sugarcane fields, in brick kilns, at construction sites, and in factories. This is called migration. Children of migrant workers face unique challenges — their schooling is interrupted, they live in difficult conditions, and they miss their homes. This chapter tells the story of a family that migrates for sugarcane harvesting and explores the reasons and consequences of migration.
2. What is migration?
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another, usually for work.
Types of migration
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal migration | Moving for a few months each year for work | Sugarcane harvest, crop planting/harvesting |
| Permanent migration | Moving permanently to a new place | Moving from village to city for a job |
| Circular migration | Moving back and forth between places | Regular seasonal travel for work |
Why do people migrate?
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| No work in villages | Small farms cannot support families year-round |
| Low wages | What they earn locally is not enough |
| Debt | Farmers borrow money and need to repay |
| Better opportunities | Cities and factories offer more work |
| Land loss | Displaced by dams, mining, or development |
3. Sugarcane harvest migration
Sugarcane harvesting is a major reason for seasonal migration in India. Sugarcane is grown in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
The sugarcane season
- Sugarcane is ready for harvest from October to April.
- This is the 'off season' for other crops.
- Whole families move to sugarcane areas for 4-6 months.
- Children often work alongside their parents.
Work conditions
| Aspect | Reality |
|---|---|
| Work | Cutting sugarcane from early morning |
| Hours | 10-12 hours per day |
| Shelter | Temporary huts or tents near the fields |
| Food | Basic meals provided by the employer |
| Pay | Low wages, sometimes less than minimum wage |
| Children | Often work instead of attending school |
4. How migration affects children
Migration has a major impact on children's lives.
Challenges for migrant children
| Challenge | Effect |
|---|---|
| No regular school | Children miss months of school every year |
| Child labour | Children often work in fields or factories |
| No friends | Constantly moving means no stable friendships |
| Poor living conditions | Lack of clean water, toilets, health care |
| Health issues | Exposure to pesticides, hard physical work |
| No play time | Working hours leave no time for play |
What can be done?
- Seasonal hostels for children of migrant workers.
- Mobile schools that travel with migrant families.
- Better enforcement of child labour laws.
- Minimum wage and decent housing for migrant workers.
- Government schemes to support migrant families.
5. The cycle of poverty
Migration is often part of a cycle of poverty:
- Family has little or no land in their village.
- No work available locally for most of the year.
- They migrate to find work.
- They earn very little — barely enough to survive.
- Children miss school and grow up without education.
- The next generation also has to migrate for work.
Breaking this cycle requires better opportunities in villages — schools, jobs, and basic facilities.
6. Activity corner
Activity 1: Talk to someone who has migrated for work (a domestic helper, construction worker, or factory worker in your area). Ask them why they came and what challenges they face.
Activity 2: Write a diary entry from the point of view of a migrant child — how they feel leaving their village and arriving at a new place.
Activity 3: Discuss in class: 'What could the government do to help migrant families?' List three suggestions.
7. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking migration is a choice people make for fun Fix: Most migration is forced by poverty and lack of opportunities. People leave their homes because they have no choice.
- Mistake: Believing migrant workers are treated well Fix: Many migrant workers face poor working conditions, low wages, and inadequate housing.
- Mistake: Forgetting that children of migrants have a right to education Fix: Every child has the right to free and compulsory education (RTE Act, 2009). Migrant children often miss out on this right.
8. Key facts
- Millions of families in India migrate seasonally for work.
- Sugarcane harvesting is a major reason for seasonal migration.
- Children of migrant workers often miss school and work instead.
- Migration is usually driven by poverty and lack of local opportunities.
- Migrant workers face poor wages, housing, and working conditions.
- Breaking the cycle requires better schools, jobs, and facilities in villages.
- Every child has the right to education — including migrant children.
9. Self-test
- What is seasonal migration?
- Why do families migrate for sugarcane harvesting?
- How does migration affect children's education?
- What is one challenge faced by migrant workers?
- What could help break the cycle of poverty that forces migration?
10. Answer key
-
What is seasonal migration? Answer: Moving to another place for a few months each year, usually for work, and then returning home.
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Why do families migrate for sugarcane harvesting? Answer: Because there is no work in their villages for several months, and sugarcane harvesting provides seasonal employment.
-
How does migration affect children's education? Answer: Children miss months of school every year, fall behind in studies, and often drop out entirely. Many work instead of attending school.
-
What is one challenge faced by migrant workers? Answer: Low wages, poor housing, long working hours, lack of basic facilities (any one).
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What could help break the cycle of poverty that forces migration? Answer: Better schools, more jobs, and basic facilities in villages; fair wages and decent working conditions for migrants; enforcement of child labour laws.
11. Quick revision
- Seasonal migration: millions move for work (sugarcane, construction).
- Sugarcane season: Oct-Apr, families migrate for 4-6 months.
- Effects on children: miss school, work instead, poor health.
- Migrant workers: low wages, poor conditions, no security.
- Cycle of poverty: lack of land -> migration -> missed education -> next generation also migrates.
- Solutions: better village schools, local jobs, fair wages.
- Every child has a right to education.
- Respect migrant workers — they do essential work.
- Understand the human story behind migration.
