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Odisha Migration Statistics: Comprehensive Research Compilation

Compiled: 2026-03-27 Purpose: Comprehensive statistical research on migration FROM Odisha — numbers, destinations, corridors, systems, remittances, push factors, and government response Status: Research document for “The Leaving” series

1. OVERALL MIGRATION SCALE

Census 2011 Interstate Migration Data

The 2011 Census remains the most comprehensive dataset on migration in India. No Census has been conducted since (the 2021 Census was postponed due to COVID-19 and has not yet been completed as of 2026).

  • Total interstate out-migrants from Odisha: 12,71,121 persons (12.71 lakh)
  • This represents: 8.07% of Odisha’s total out-migration; the remaining 91.93% (1,44,88,013 persons) is intra-state migration
  • Odisha’s total population (Census 2011): 4.197 crore (41.97 million)
  • Net interstate out-migration: 2.8 lakh (280,000) — i.e., more people left Odisha than entered it
  • Total migrants enumerated in Odisha: 1,54,21,793 persons (including intra-state)
  • Rate of male out-migration for employment: 58% of male migrants cite “work and employment” as reason — more than double the all-India average of 24%
  • Female work-related out-migration: 6.11% vs. national average of 2%
  • Eastern states’ share: West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand together account for 24.4% of all inter-state migrants in India

Sources:

NSSO / PLFS Migration Estimates

  • NSSO 64th Round (2007-08): The last dedicated national migration survey before the upcoming 2026-27 survey. Key finding: interstate migration predominant in coastal and southern Odisha; seasonal/temporary migration highest in southern Odisha
  • PLFS 2020-21: ~8.51 lakh (851,000) labourers from Odisha migrate annually for work
  • CMLS (Centre for Migration and Labour Solutions) tracking: Seasonal labourers tracked rose from 87,000 (2008) to 1.05 lakh (2012) to 1.2 lakh (2013) to 1.35 lakh (2014) to 1.45 lakh — these are only the tracked numbers, actual figures are far higher
  • Expert estimates: 3-5 lakh labourers migrate annually to different states (conservative; does not count semi-permanent migration)
  • Odisha Migration Survey (OMS) 2023 (IIT Hyderabad, 15,000 households across all 30 districts): Estimates 1.7 million inter-state migrants originated from Odisha

Sources:

National Migration Survey 2026-27 (Upcoming)

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced a year-long National Migration Survey from July 2026 to June 2027, conducted under the National Sample Survey framework. This will be the most comprehensive migration study in nearly two decades. It will cover:

  • Overall migration rate
  • Out-migration levels
  • Short-term migration patterns
  • Reasons people move
  • Net migration balance across regions

Source: National Migration Survey 2026-27 | Drishti IAS

Odisha Economic Survey 2024-25 and 2025-26

The Odisha Economic Survey does not dedicate a specific section to migration data but provides economic context:

2025-26 Survey (Survey Ch. 1):

  • GSDP at current prices: ₹9.9 lakh crore (§1.1.3) — approaching ₹10 lakh crore
  • Real GSDP growth: 7.9% in 2024-25 (above national 6.5%) (§1.1.2)
  • Per capita income: ₹1,86,761 (9.2% growth, outpacing national 6.9%)
  • Labour Force Participation Rate: 64.5% in 2024 (§1.4.3) — above national 59.6%; up from 58.1% in 2022
  • Female LFPR: 48.7% in 2024 (§1.4.4) — up from 37.6% in 2022; one of India’s highest
  • Unemployment rate: 3.1% in 2024 (§1.4.5) — down from 5.1% in 2022
  • Agriculture contribution: 19.6% of state economy (§1.2.2)

2024-25 Survey:

  • Real growth: 7.2%
  • Per capita income: Rs 1,82,548 (still 8.8% below India’s Rs 2,00,162)

Sources:

Total Estimated Odia Population Outside Odisha

There is no single authoritative figure. Aggregating available estimates:

CategoryEstimated NumberSource
Census 2011 interstate out-migrants12.71 lakhCensus 2011
OMS 2023 interstate migrants17 lakh (1.7 million)IIT Hyderabad
Odias in Surat alone7-8 lakhMultiple estimates
Odias in Bangalore~6 lakhOdia diaspora Wikipedia, 2016 estimate
Seasonal dadan workers (annual)2-3 lakh (families)NGO estimates
Kendrapada plumbers (domestic + Gulf)~1 lakhDown to Earth, Caravan
International diasporaNo reliable aggregate—

Conservative aggregate (domestic only): At least 20-25 lakh (2-2.5 million) Odias live outside Odisha at any given time, considering census undercounting, growth since 2011, and the enormous informal/unregistered migration population.

COVID-19 revealed the true scale: When the government called for registration of stranded migrants in 2020, approximately 10 lakh people registered through the Odisha government portal stating they wished to return home. This is widely considered a massive undercount since many migrants lack smartphones, internet access, or awareness of the portal.

Odia speakers outside Odisha (Census 2011 language data):

  • Chhattisgarh: 9,13,581
  • Jharkhand: 5,31,077
  • Andhra Pradesh: 3,61,471
  • West Bengal: 1,62,142
  • Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu: significant numbers (specific breakdowns not separately tabulated in census language data)

Sources:

2. DESTINATION MAPPING

Top Destination States (Census 2011)

Destination StateShare of Odisha’s Interstate Out-MigrantsEstimated Number
Gujarat18.09%~2.30 lakh
Andhra Pradesh (undivided)13.89%~1.76 lakh
Chhattisgarh12.93%~1.64 lakh
Maharashtra11.43%~1.45 lakh
Karnataka8.29%~1.05 lakh
Jharkhand7.41%~0.94 lakh
West Bengal7.30%~0.93 lakh
Tamil NaduSignificantNot separately listed
Delhi NCRSignificantNot separately listed

Note: These Census 2011 numbers are frozen in time and massively undercount the actual migration as of 2026, particularly to Gujarat (Surat corridor) and Karnataka (Bangalore IT corridor), both of which have grown enormously since 2011.

Source: Census 2011 Snapshot | Journal of Migration Affairs

COVID-19 Return Data as Proxy for Current Destination Mapping (2020)

Shramik Special train return data (by 7 July 2020) provides a more recent snapshot:

Source State% of Train Returnees to OdishaApproximate Numbers
Gujarat36%1,30,537
Telangana17%~60,000
Tamil Nadu15%~54,000
KeralaSignificantPart of 8,53,777 total from GJ+TN+KL (Apr-Sep 2020)
Others32%—

Total returned by train to Odisha by 7 July 2020: 3,58,401

Source: COVID-19-Led Reverse Migration in Odisha | Sage Journals

District-to-Destination Mapping

Source District(s)Primary DestinationType of WorkEstimated Scale
GanjamSurat, GujaratPowerloom textile~7 lakh (700,000)
Ganjam (SC/Dalit)KeralaConstruction, unskilled laborGrowing (emerging corridor driven by caste exclusion in Surat)
Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bargarh, Sonepur, BoudhAP, Telangana, TN, KarnatakaBrick kilns (dadan labour)~2 lakh (60,000+ families)
Bolangir cluster (Kantabanji area)AP/Telangana brick kilnsBrick making~3 lakh workers/year
KendrapadaAll India + Gulf countriesPlumbing~1 lakh (100,000)
KalahandiChhattisgarh (Raipur, Durg)Vegetable farming, constructionSignificant (ST/OBC)
Koraput, Malkangiri, RayagadaKerala, TN, APConstruction, brick kilnsPart of KBK distress migration
Coastal Odisha (Puri, Ganjam)KeralaFishing, constructionTraditional corridor
Various (professional/IT)Bangalore, Hyderabad, PuneIT, engineering~6 lakh in Bangalore alone (2016 est.)
Balasore, Cuttack, BhadrakGulf countries, Western nationsIT, construction, plumbing, professionalPrimary international migration source districts

Sources:

Top Migrant-Sending Districts

Ten districts formally identified as migration-prone by the state government:

  1. Ganjam — powerloom migration to Surat; largest single-district contributor
  2. Bolangir (Balangir) — brick kiln dadan migration; Kantabanji is largest labor market
  3. Nuapada — brick kiln migration, among the poorest districts
  4. Kalahandi — brick kiln + Chhattisgarh agricultural labor
  5. Bargarh — brick kiln + construction migration
  6. Koraput — KBK distress migration
  7. Gajapati — construction labor
  8. Nabarangpur — highest MPI poverty (59.32%), distress migration
  9. Sonepur (Subarnapur) — brick kiln migration
  10. Boudh — brick kiln migration

Additional districts identified: Kendrapada (plumbing), Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Khordha, Puri, Rayagada, Keonjhar.

In 2014, the state government identified 11 of its 30 districts as migration-prone. By 2024, this list has expanded to 14 districts.

Sources:

3. INFORMAL / DADAN LABOR MIGRATION

What is the Dadan System

Etymology: “Dadan” traces to the Persian word “dadni” meaning “to give” or “an advance payment.” In Odia, it has come to mean debt migration/bondage.

How it works — the annual cycle:

  1. August-September (Nuakhai festival): Sardars (labour contractors) visit villages during the harvest festival. They verify workers’ age and physical condition.
  2. Advance payment (“Bahu Bandha” = “tying of arms” in Balangir): Workers receive Rs 35,000-60,000 per person. Amount has risen from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000-60,000 in recent years.
  3. Documents seized: Sardars keep workers’ Aadhaar cards and identity documents as “guarantee.”
  4. October-December departure: Workers board trains at Kantabanji or Khariar Road railway stations.
  5. January-June: 6 months of brick-making at kilns in AP, Telangana, TN, Karnataka.
  6. Production targets: E.g., 6 lakh bricks over 6 months per family unit.
  7. May-June return: Workers return before monsoon — but often forced to stay longer if targets not met.
  8. Monsoon (non-working season): Workers have no income; survive on next year’s advance — perpetuating the cycle.

Why workers accept: They need cash to repay moneylenders (who charge high interest), celebrate Nuakhai, survive the monsoon. The advance from sardars is their only accessible cash source.

The trap: Once advance is accepted, worker is effectively bonded. At the kiln, only a food allowance is paid — actual settlement happens at end of season. Deductions pile up. The whole family (including children) must work 12-16 hours/day.

Sources:

Scale of Seasonal/Circular Migration

  • Over 60,000 families (~2 lakh individuals) from Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Boudh, Sonepur, Bargarh migrate annually to brick kilns
  • Additional 40,000-50,000 move to brick kilns near Cuttack and Bhubaneswar within Odisha
  • ~200,000+ people recruited by labour agents annually and transported to AP/Telangana brick kilns
  • ~100,000+ migrate in unregistered, shadowy ways (Organiser, 2025)
  • In Sargul village (Muribahal block, Balangir): 90% of ~2,300 residents are in the dadan category
  • In Ichhapada panchayat: 80% are dadan workers
  • January-June: described as “near-total exodus” from western Odisha migration-prone areas

Less than 20% of out-migration is seasonal (under 6 months). The majority (80%+) stay at destinations for more than 6 months — semi-permanent or permanent.

18-31% of households in migration-prone blocks have at least one person who has migrated for work outside Odisha.

Government Tracked Numbers (2024-2026)

YearTracked Migrants (Balangir + Bargarh)Total Tracked (All Districts)
202449,99870,142
202565,30994,106
2026 (to date)—43 rescued so far

Trend: Sharp rise of ~34% in one year (2024-2025).

Rescue operations:

  • 2024: 1,055 migrant workers brought back (Balangir: 626, Nuapada: 153)
  • 2025: 1,078 workers returned (Balangir: 572, Nuapada: 134)
  • 2026 (to date): 43 migrant workers rescued from other states

Source: Migration of Dadan Workers from Odisha Rises Sharply | The News Insight

Brick Kilns

Worker conditions:

  • Work hours: 12-16 hours/day
  • Wages at kiln: Rs 8,000-12,000/month — but often only food allowance paid during season
  • Workers predominantly young: 72% aged 16-29
  • Entire families work, including children
  • Only 1 in 5 has access to washrooms at worksites
  • No medical facilities

Major rescue operations:

  • May 2020 (Tamil Nadu): 360 people rescued from Pudhukuppam kiln. 19-year-old Manasi Bariha from Balangir alerted media. 6,750 labourers freed from 31 kilns in 48 hours.
  • February 2020 (Tamil Nadu): 247 freed including 50 children
  • May 2023: Children aged 12-17 rescued; families lured with Rs 45,000 advance, earned only Rs 400/week
  • February 2026 (Karnataka, Bagalkot): 34 bonded labourers including children rescued; Rs 30,000 immediate compensation per person

Sources:

Construction and Domestic Work

  • Construction labor is a major category, particularly from Gajapati, Koraput, and coastal districts to Kerala and Tamil Nadu
  • Domestic work is less documented but growing, particularly women migrating to urban areas within Odisha and to Kolkata, Delhi
  • The Dalits from Ganjam are increasingly migrating to Kerala instead of Surat due to caste discrimination in the Surat corridor — Kerala offers higher wages AND less caste discrimination

Source: Migration Patterns: Dalits prefer Kerala over Gujarat | The Mooknayak

NGO Reports and Research

Gram Vikas + CMID (Centre for Migration and Inclusive Development):

  • Conducted Block Migration Profiles — scientific sample surveys — for Jagannathprasad (Ganjam), Surada (Ganjam), Baliguda (Kandhamal), and Rayagada (Gajapati)
  • Jagannathprasad block (2020-21 survey, 421 households): 57.2% of people have stayed for work outside the district for 30+ days in the past 10 years. Nearly 1/3 of migrant workers work in Surat. Estimated annual remittance: Rs 64 crore.
  • Surada block (2023 survey): Nearly 1/3 of migrants work in Surat. 95.8% of migrant households report they could not have come out of poverty without migration income — highest across all surveyed blocks.
  • Baliguda block (Kandhamal): 62.9% of migrant households report inability to escape poverty without migration income.

Gram Vikas findings: Migration contributes substantially to promoting resilience of partner communities. Almost entirely men who migrate; families stay behind. 2% of households have women or girls who migrated for work.

Sources:

Aide et Action: Part of the MiRC (Migration Information & Resource Centre) network — 11 NGOs tracking migration from western and coastal Odisha, following up rehabilitation of released bonded labourers in 7 districts.

CYSD (Centre for Youth & Social Development): Works on migration-related advocacy, operates on advisory boards related to Gram Vikas migration projects.

International Justice Mission (IJM): Has conducted multiple brick kiln rescue operations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka involving Odia bonded labourers.

Inter-State Migrant Worker Registration

The Odisha government has attempted formal registration under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (RE&CS) Act, 1979:

  • PAReSHRAM portal: Online registration system for migrant workers
  • Data collection: Formats circulated to District Labour Officers in October 2012 to capture migrant data at GP level
  • ILO collaboration: Discussions held to develop tracking software for workers migrating to AP brick kilns
  • 14 districts formally identified as migration-prone: Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Sundergarh, Khordha, Kendrapara, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur

Reality check: The formal registration system captures a tiny fraction of actual migration. Most migration happens through informal networks and sardars who operate entirely outside the legal framework.

Sources:

4. SURAT-GANJAM CORRIDOR

Scale and History

  • Corridor age: 80+ years — one of India’s oldest and most established internal migration corridors
  • Current estimated Odia workers in Surat: 7-8 lakh (700,000-800,000)
  • From Ganjam alone: ~6-7 lakh (UNDP 2007 study and subsequent estimates)
  • Ganjam’s migration share to Gujarat: 40% of all migrants from the district go to Gujarat
  • Surat’s textile industry dependence: Produces ~90% of India’s polyester; operated largely by Odia migrants
  • Total loom machines in Surat: 1.5 million across the city

Sources:

Which Ganjam Blocks Send the Most Workers

Ganjam district has 22 blocks. The Surat migration corridor primarily draws from:

  • Surada — one of the most heavily documented blocks; nearly 1/3 of migrant workers go to Surat; 95.8% of migrant households say they could not have escaped poverty without migration
  • Jagannathprasad — 57.2% migration rate; nearly 1/3 go to Surat; Rs 64 crore annual remittance from this single block
  • Polsara — migration documented in IndiaSpend and Scroll.in reporting
  • Chikiti — documented in caste-migration studies
  • Aska, Bhanjanagar, Digapahandi, Hinjilicut, Khallikote, Buguda — all blocks within the Ganjam-Surat corridor zone

Migration is through informal social networks operating along caste lines. The Teli community (OBC, dominant caste in Ganjam) dominates the Surat powerloom corridor.

Sources:

Working Conditions

  • Shifts: 12 hours, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. or 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
  • Days off: None standard. Maximum 2 days/month. No weekly off, no paid leave
  • Machines per worker: 8-16 loom machines per person
  • Pay: Rs 20,000-25,000/month; paid Rs 1.10-1.50 per metre of fabric produced
  • Registration: Not registered under real names; no ID cards; classified as casual workers even after 10+ years
  • Legal loophole: Most looms registered under Shops and Establishment Act (not Factories Act), so workers get no accident compensation or insurance

Living Conditions — “The Rooms by the Looms”

  • Room size: 500-800 sq ft
  • Occupancy: 60-100 workers per room across two shifts
  • Per-person space: Six-by-three feet (shared with shift partner)
  • Building type: “Panch Manzila” (five-story buildings), dilapidated interiors
  • Ventilation: Ill-lit, ill-ventilated, many rooms windowless
  • Temperature: Summer reaches 40 C; inadequate fans
  • Water: Intermittent supply
  • Toilets: Two shared per room; pervasive smell of urine
  • Pests: Termites, rats, bed bugs (visible bug blood on walls)
  • Mess fees: Rs 2,300-2,500/month (rent + meals combined)
  • Dalit workers pay Rs 2,300/month at separate, caste-segregated messes

Health Consequences

  • Tuberculosis, scabies, fungal infections, malaria common
  • Daily fat consumption at 294% of recommended levels; salt at 376%
  • Hypertension and poor lipid profiles common
  • Between 2012-2015: 84 fatal events killed 114 workers in registered textile units in Surat; 375 seriously injured
  • One loom master from Ganjam reported conducting 27 funerals in one year
  • Documented deaths include workers as young as 16 (electrocution) and 18 (fever/dysentery)

Sources:

Caste Dynamics — A Portable Hierarchy

  • Mess operators (upper caste/OBC) refuse to accommodate Dalits
  • SC migrants face caste hierarchy at work: not allowed to touch machines, forced to dine and live separately
  • Result: Dalits from Ganjam are increasingly migrating to Kerala instead of Surat
  • Kerala offers higher wages AND less caste discrimination

Sources:

Remittance Estimates for the Corridor

  • Ganjam district remittance (overall): ~Rs 120-124 crore per month = Rs 1,440-1,488 crore per year ($170-175 million)
  • Jagannathprasad block alone: Rs 64 crore/year
  • Average monthly remittance per migrant (2009 study): Rs 1,427
  • Self-employed migrants remit more: up to Rs 1,655/month
  • Single migrants remit nearly half their earnings
  • Transfer methods: shifting from banks to private operators and family members carrying cash

Source: MOSPI Report on Impact of Remittances

Social Organizations in Surat

Notable finding: Despite 7-8 lakh Odia workers in Surat, no formal Odia cultural or community organization has been documented in research. Community life is organized around caste-based mess systems and informal networks. This stands in stark contrast to Bangalore (Orissa Cultural Association), Hyderabad (Utkal Parishad), Delhi (Odia Association), and other cities with much smaller Odia populations.

Source: Odia diaspora | Wikipedia

The Reverse Migration Hope

Sisir Gouda of Balakrushnapur, Ganjam, worked in Surat/Mumbai textile mills for 32 years. Set up Matexmate Textile Private Limited in his native village in 2020. Invested Rs 2 crore, installed 9 weaving machines. Capacity extends to 50 machines for 200+ workers. Seeking state government financial support.

Source: Factory Worker Weaves Hope | OdishaBytes

5. SKILLED MIGRATION / BRAIN DRAIN

Engineering Graduates — Placement Data

NIT Rourkela (2024-25):

  • 1,274 job offers + 509 six-month internships
  • BTech placement rate: 82.20%
  • Highest package: Rs 62.44 LPA (Computer Science)
  • Average salary: Rs 14.10 LPA (BTech), Rs 13.48 LPA (MTech)
  • 85+ students secured CTCs above Rs 30 LPA
  • 373 recruiters including Google, Amazon, Qualcomm, AMD, JSW, Exxon Mobil, DE Shaw, Deloitte, Texas Instruments, American Express
  • Key point: Virtually all high-package placements are in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, or abroad. NIT Rourkela trains talent that overwhelmingly leaves Odisha.

KIIT University (2024):

  • 700+ companies visited
  • 5,585 offers
  • Highest package: Rs 53 LPA
  • Average: Rs 8.50 LPA (BTech)
  • Placement rate: 83.06%
  • Top recruiters: Amazon, DE Shaw, McKinsey, Salesforce, Dell Technologies, Deloitte

VSSUT Sambalpur (2025):

  • 76 recruiters, 639 job offers
  • Highest package: Rs 24 LPA
  • Median: Rs 6.38 LPA
  • Top recruiters: Amazon, JP Morgan, UBS, Maruti Suzuki, Cummins

IIT Bhubaneswar (2025):

  • 254 BTech students placed
  • 90.07% placement rate
  • Highest package: Rs 67.6 LPA

Sources:

IIT Brain Drain (National Context)

  • A 2023 NBER study found 36% of top 1,000 JEE rankers moved abroad
  • Among top 100 rankers: 62% went abroad
  • In the 1990s, up to 70% went abroad
  • Over 60,000 doctors and 75,000 engineers leave India annually

IT Sector Migration to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune

  • Odias in Bangalore: ~6,00,000 (6 lakh) as of 2016. Significant growth since the IT boom in late 2000s
  • Odias in Hyderabad: Significant community; organized through Utkal Parishad (Kanchanbagh), WOSACA
  • Odias in Pune: Bhetghat Cultural Association (est. 2005)
  • Bhubaneswar as alternative: Over 200 IT firms now operate in Bhubaneswar, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Mindtree, Capgemini. Infocity SEZ (145.91 acres) and Info Valley SEZ (262 acres) are operational. But specialized high-paying roles remain concentrated in Bangalore/Hyderabad.

Sources:

Medical Graduates

  • Odisha has 15 government medical colleges (including AIIMS Bhubaneswar) with ~1,725 MBBS seats (2025)
  • Top colleges: SCB Medical College (Cuttack), MKCG Medical College (Berhampur), VIMSAR (Burla), AIIMS Bhubaneswar
  • No systematic data on where medical graduates go after completion. Anecdotal evidence suggests a significant proportion leave for better-paying hospitals in metros or pursue post-graduation outside Odisha.
  • India-wide: over 60,000 doctors leave India annually (national figure)

Civil Services (IAS/IPS)

  • Current vacancies in Odisha cadre: 42 IAS, 67 IPS, 66 IFS posts vacant (as of 2024-25)
  • Officers on central deputation from Odisha cadre: 27 IAS + 28 IPS + 7 IFS = 62 officers serving outside the state
  • Sanctioned strength: IAS: 248, IPS: 195, IFS: 141
  • The significant deputation numbers and vacancies create an administrative capacity deficit within the state

Sources:

Academic Migration

  • Odisha’s government universities regularly advertise for guest and temporary faculty positions, suggesting chronic difficulty retaining permanent faculty
  • OUTR (Odisha University of Technology and Research) has held multiple recruitment drives for Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors
  • No systematic study quantifies the scale of faculty departures from Odisha universities, but the pattern is consistent with broader Indian trends where scholars move to better-funded institutions in metros

Source: OUTR Faculty Recruitment | Faculty Tick

6. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

Gulf States (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait)

Source districts: Most Odia international migration originates from northern Odisha — primarily Balasore, Cuttack, and Bhadrak districts. This is a distinctly different migration stream from the Ganjam-Surat or Bolangir-brick kiln corridors.

Context: During the 2009 construction boom in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, Odias from these districts migrated for IT, construction, and skilled work. Migration peaked again during Qatar’s FIFA World Cup infrastructure build-up.

No reliable aggregate number exists for Odias in Gulf countries. India-wide, ~9 million Indians live in GCC countries (3.41 million in UAE, 2.59 million in Saudi Arabia, 1.02 million in Kuwait, 740,000 in Qatar, 700,000 in Oman, 320,000 in Bahrain). Odisha is listed among contributing states but its share is not separately quantified.

Source: Odia diaspora | Wikipedia

Kendrapada Plumbers — A Unique Gulf Corridor

  • ~1 lakh (100,000) people from Kendrapada district work as plumbers across India and abroad
  • From villages in Pattamundai, Aul, Rajkanika, and Rajnagar blocks
  • Gulf destinations: Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
  • Earnings: Rs 50,000-1 lakh/month in West Asia; Rs 30,000-1 lakh in Indian cities
  • Qatar FIFA World Cup (2022): ~2,500 plumbers from Kendrapada worked on stadium and infrastructure sanitary works. Employers: HBK Engineering, Trident, L&T
  • Other landmark projects: India’s new Parliament building, convention centres in Delhi
  • Skill institution: State Institute of Plumbing Technology (SIPT) in Pattamundai — the only plumbing-dedicated institute in India
  • Almost every household in these blocks has at least one member in the plumbing trade

Sources:

Merchant Marine / Seafarers

  • Odisha Maritime Academy (est. 1993) at Paradip Port — Odisha’s only maritime training institute
  • Capacity: 40 students at a time (20 seats for Odisha candidates, 20 for other states)
  • 50% seats reserved for Odia candidates; Rs 15,000 fee rebate for Odia candidates
  • Provides training for GP (General Purpose) Rating in the Merchant Navy
  • Adani group set to take over the institute (as of recent reports)
  • No aggregate data on total Odia seafarers in the merchant marine

Sources:

US/UK/Australia/Canada Diaspora

No reliable population estimates exist for Odia diaspora in Western countries. Available information:

  • United Kingdom: Migration recorded since 1935; mostly from Balasore (in undivided Bengal province). Chain migration continues.
  • Australia: Prior to 1980, Australian Odias came from Balasore, Sambalpur, and Cuttack. Post-2000, software engineers from various districts.
  • United States: The Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA), incorporated 1981 in Tennessee, has ~20 regional chapters across USA and Canada. Annual convention draws several thousand attendees.
  • Canada: Odisha Society of Canada (CANOSA)
  • Other: OSI (Ireland), OSUK (UK), Odia Society of Singapore

Sources:

Odisha’s Share of India’s International Remittances

  • India received ~$120 billion in remittances in 2023; projected $124 billion in 2024 and $129 billion in 2025
  • Slightly more than half of India’s remittances originate from Gulf countries
  • Odisha’s specific share is not separately tracked in RBI or World Bank remittance data
  • The state is not among the top remittance-receiving states (which are Kerala, Goa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana)

Source: India’s Remittance Trends 2024 | Drishti IAS

7. REMITTANCE DATA

Estimates of Total Remittances Flowing Back to Odisha

EstimateAmountSource/Year
Ganjam district monthlyRs 120-124 crore/month (~Rs 1,440-1,488 crore/year)IDR/IndiaSpend estimates
Total Odia migrant remittances (all districts)Rs 2,000 crore/yearNGO estimate, 2007
Jagannathprasad block (Ganjam) aloneRs 64 crore/yearGram Vikas-CMID, 2020
Southern Odisha blocks (aggregate)~Rs 30 crore/yearMOSPI report
Average remittance per Surat migrantRs 1,427/month2009 study

Note: The 2007 figure of Rs 2,000 crore is certainly outdated. Given the growth in migrant numbers and wages, a 2024-25 estimate would likely be Rs 5,000-8,000 crore annually for all domestic remittances (this is the author’s estimate based on available data, not an official figure).

District-Level Impact

Ganjam: The highest remittance-receiving district. Multidimensional poverty declined from ~22% (2015-16) to 6% (2019-20) — migration and remittances are a major factor. The district’s real estate boom, motorcycle/autorickshaw ownership increase, new micro-enterprises (internet centers, rice mills, shops) are remittance-driven.

Bolangir/Nuapada: Kantabanji’s labour trade in Nuakhai season alone involves at least Rs 1,200 crore in transactions (advance payments to workers). However, these advances largely go to repaying moneylenders and sustaining families through the monsoon.

Kendrapada: Plumber remittances from Gulf and metro cities are significant but not aggregated.

How Remittances Are Used

Based on multiple studies:

  1. Housing construction — the most visible use; pucca houses replacing kuccha
  2. Debt repayment — particularly moneylender debt (high interest)
  3. Education — children’s school/college fees
  4. Consumption — daily expenses, festival spending
  5. Health care — medical expenses for family members
  6. Productive investment — new micro-enterprises, land purchase, vehicles (less common)
  7. Social ceremonies — weddings, festivals

Sources:

Banking and Transfer Data

  • Transfer methods shifting from banks to private operators and family members carrying cash
  • Post offices serve as key remittance points in rural Odisha through Money Order and electronic Money Order (eMO) services
  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is expanding digital banking to rural areas
  • MGNREGS wage and pension disbursement through post offices provides a parallel financial channel
  • No district-level banking deposit data specific to remittances has been published

8. COVID-19 MIGRATION CRISIS

Number of Migrants Who Returned

MetricNumberDateSource
People registered to return on state portal~10 lakh (1 million)May-June 2020CBGA
Government estimate of stranded workers7.5 lakhMay 2020CBGA
Returned by Shramik Special trains3,58,401By 7 July 2020COVID Dashboard, Govt of Odisha
Returned by all modes of transport5,43,905By 14 June 2020Academic estimates
Returned during April-September 2020 (from Gujarat, TN, Kerala only)8,53,777Sept 2020Sage Journals
”Natives returned” (broader category)58 lakh (5.8 million)By 29 June 2020Sage Journals

Note on the 5.8 million figure: This broader figure likely includes all “natives” who returned, not just migrant workers — including students, professionals, visitors, etc. The migrant worker count is more conservatively 5-10 lakh.

Where They Came From (Shramik Train Data)

Source State% of Train ReturneesNumber
Gujarat36%1,30,537
Telangana17%~61,000
Tamil Nadu15%~54,000
Others32%~1,13,000

Quarantine Infrastructure

  • 2.27 lakh beds prepared in 7,200 isolation facilities in government-owned buildings (schools) across Gram Panchayats
  • All returnees underwent 14-day mandatory quarantine (TMCs — Temporary Medical Centres)
  • Returnees received Rs 2,000 incentive after completing quarantine

COVID Cases Linked to Returnees

  • Almost 90% of Odisha’s 1,189 COVID cases (as of late May 2020) attributed to returning migrants
  • Cases rose from 162 on May 3 to 611 in just 11 days after migrant returns began

How Many Went Back After Restrictions Lifted

No comprehensive data exists on how many returned migrants went back to their destination states. Anecdotal evidence suggests the vast majority of semi-permanent migrants (Surat powerloom workers, Bangalore IT workers) returned to their workplaces within months of restrictions lifting. Brick kiln workers resumed the dadan cycle by the October-November 2020 season.

What COVID Revealed

  1. The true scale was far larger than official estimates. When 10 lakh people registered on one portal alone, it became clear that Census 2011’s 12.71 lakh figure was massively outdated.
  2. The informality was total. Workers had no ID cards, no registration, no employer records. The government struggled to even locate and count them.
  3. The vulnerability was extreme. Workers lost jobs instantly, had no savings, couldn’t access basic services, and had no social security.
  4. The dependency was mutual. Surat’s textile industry ground to a halt without Odia workers. This demonstrated that migration was not just Odisha’s labor loss but a structural economic interdependence.

COVID-Era Violence Against Odia Migrants in Surat

  • March 30, 2020: 90+ Odia workers arrested for defying lockdown
  • April 2020: 81 Odia migrant workers arrested for setting 10+ vehicles ablaze, protesting lockdown extension. Workers said they weren’t getting food/basic facilities.
  • May 2020: Over 1,000 migrant workers (many Odia) clashed with police, demanding to be sent home.
  • Beating death: Satya Swain from Kullada village near Bhanjanagar, Ganjam — working in Surat for 2 years — allegedly beaten to death by police enforcing lockdown.

Sources:

9. PUSH FACTORS

Unemployment

  • Odisha unemployment rate (2024, PLFS annual): 3.1% (Survey Ch. 1 §1.4.5) — down from 5.1% in 2022; broadly in line with national levels
  • Labour Force Participation Rate: Odisha 64.5% (2024), above national 59.6% — up from 58.1% in 2022 (Survey Ch. 1 §1.4.3)
  • Workforce Population Ratio (WPR): Odisha 62.5% (2024), above national 57.7%; up from 55.1% in 2022 (Survey Ch. 1 §1.4.5)
  • Workforce composition: Agriculture 48.6%, Industry 27.5%, Services 23.9%. Self-employment 62.7%, casual 24.1%, regular salaried 13.2% (Survey Ch. 1 §1.4.6)
  • Gujarat unemployment (same period): ~2.2% — among the lowest in India (external, for comparative context)
  • Maharashtra unemployment (Apr-Jun 2025): 6.4%; (Jul-Sep 2025): 4.5% (external)

While headline unemployment has improved, Survey figures mask massive underemployment and disguised unemployment in agriculture (still 48.6% of workforce) — particularly in western Odisha.

Sources:

Wage Differentials

Minimum wages comparison (2025):

StateUnskilled Worker Daily WageMonthly Equivalent
OdishaRs 452/day~Rs 11,752
Gujarat (Zone I)Rs 500.50/day~Rs 13,013
Gujarat (Zone II)Rs 489.50/day~Rs 12,727

But actual wage differential is larger in practice:

  • Surat powerloom workers earn Rs 20,000-25,000/month
  • Odisha MGNREGA wage rate: Rs 237/day (= Rs 5,925/month for 25 days)
  • Odisha supplementary MGNREGA: Rs 237 + Rs 115 = Rs 352/day (still below minimum wage)
  • Effective wage ratio: A Surat powerloom worker earns roughly 3-4x what MGNREGA provides

Sources:

Agrarian Distress

Farm size:

  • Small and marginal farmers: 93% of total farming community in Odisha
  • High land fragmentation and concealed tenancy
  • Farming has become “a high-risk, low-return activity with increasing input prices and bottlenecks in marketing”

Productivity:

  • Cropping intensity: 117% (2023) vs. national average of 156%
  • Foodgrain productivity: 1,798 kg/hectare vs. national 2,515 kg/hectare
  • Recent improvement (2025-26 survey): Cropping intensity improved to 165%; foodgrain output reached 150.5 lakh MT

Irrigation:

  • Kharif irrigated area: 30.89 lakh hectares
  • Rabi irrigated area: only 15.01 lakh hectares (dramatically lower)
  • Balangir district: Only ~3% of agricultural land has irrigation
  • Irrigation is identified as the single most important driver of agricultural growth in Odisha
  • 2025-26 survey: Total irrigated area reached 74.2 lakh hectares (improvement)

Sources:

KBK Region Poverty Data

NITI Aayog Multidimensional Poverty Index (based on NFHS-5, 2019-21):

DistrictMPI Poverty %Category
Nabarangpur59.32%Highest in Odisha
Malkangiri58.71%2nd highest
Koraput51.14%3rd
Rayagada48.14%4th
Kalahandi47.28%5th
Mayurbhanj44.90%6th
Kandhamal44.75%7th
Keonjhar41.78%8th
Odisha state average29.35%9th among states
India average~14.96%—

Odisha’s poverty improvement: Multidimensionally poor population declined from 29.34% (2015-16) to 15.68% (2019-21) per NITI Aayog. But in KBK districts, poverty remains 3-4x the national average.

Kalahandi specifics: 77% of adults still depend on agriculture; only ~3% irrigation in Balangir.

Sources:

Natural Disasters as Push Factors

Odisha is among India’s most disaster-prone states. From 1891 to 2000, 98 cyclones/severe cyclones crossed the Odisha coast.

Recent major events:

  • 1999 Super Cyclone: ~10,000+ dead, massive displacement, near-total destruction in coastal Odisha
  • Cyclone Phailin (2013): Massive evacuation, livelihood destruction
  • Cyclone Fani (May 2019): 81 killed, ~$8.1 billion damage (mostly in Odisha), 60% families made homeless in affected areas, 35% lost coconut orchard livelihoods
  • Cyclone Amphan (May 2020): Impacted 10 Odisha districts alongside COVID pandemic
  • Annual floods: Affect agricultural areas regularly, particularly in Mahanadi and Brahmani river basins
  • Drought: KBK districts are drought-prone; irregular monsoon exacerbates agrarian distress

Impact: Small and marginal farmers who lack resources for recovery face the most severe livelihood disruptions, often leading to distress migration and deepening poverty cycles. Natural disasters compound the push factors that drive seasonal migration.

Sources:

10. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Orissa Dadan Labour Act, 1975

  • Historic significance: Odisha was the first state in India to formulate a law protecting migrant workers — 4 years before the national Inter-State Migrant Workman Act, 1979
  • Key provisions: Registration requirements, minimum wages, inspection mechanisms, contractual agreements
  • Failures: Effectively a dead letter. Sardars’ promises routinely broken. No enforcement. Rehabilitation committees non-functional. Workers taken to far-off places with only rail fare paid.

Source: Orissa Dadan Labour Act 1975 | Lawsisto

Task Force on Distress Migration (October 2024)

  • Formed by: Mohan Charan Majhi (BJP) government
  • Led by: Deputy CM K.V. Singh Deo
  • Members include: Deputy CM Pravati Parida, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabinarayan Naik, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg
  • Objectives: Assess migration dynamics, link welfare schemes, skills, credit, and inter-state coordination
  • Awareness campaigns in 30 migration-prone blocks
  • Destination-state official visits for rehabilitation planning

Source: Distress Migration: Majhi Government Constitutes Task Force | Odisha Plus

MGNREGA Extension and Supplementary Scheme

  • July 2022: Odisha started providing additional 200 days work to job-seekers in 20 migration-prone blocks in Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada
  • November 2023: Extended to 10 tribal blocks in Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada
  • Total coverage: 30 migration-prone blocks in 9 districts
  • Wage: MGNREGA rate Rs 237/day + supplementary Rs 115/day = Rs 352/day
  • Target: Provide work before peak migration season (October-December) to prevent distress departure
  • 2025 update: Workdays extended to 300 days in some areas
  • Average employment generated per household (2023-24): 53.23 days — a decrease from 55.51 days the previous year
  • Effectiveness: Empirical studies (Springer, 2023) suggest MGNREGA and convergence schemes “appear to have been effective in arresting distress migration, thanks to the rise in household incomes” — but the sharp rise in tracked migration (70,142 to 94,106 between 2024-2025) suggests the impact remains limited.

Sources:

Odisha TEX 2025 — Industrial Job Creation

  • 33 MoUs signed worth Rs 7,808 crore
  • Projected jobs: 53,300+ direct jobs
  • Worker subsidies: Rs 6,000/month (male), Rs 7,000/month (female)
  • Hindalco investment: Rs 200 crore (2,400 jobs)
  • Target: 1 lakh+ jobs by 2030
  • Focused on textile sector — directly relevant to bringing Ganjam-Surat corridor work back to Odisha

Source: Odisha Dadan Migration: BJP govt response | Organiser

Skill Development

  • Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA): Established December 2016
  • Goal: Skill 6.7 lakh youth in 2 years
  • Programs: PMKVY, CMEGP, Placement Linked Training Program (PLTP)
  • Focus sectors: IT, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail
  • District-level: Skill Gap Analysis and District Skill Plans completed for all 30 districts
  • ADB partnership: Odisha Skill Development Project supported by Asian Development Bank

Sources:

Mobile Migrant Resource Centre

  • Launched in collaboration with UN bodies (FAO, IOM)
  • Toll-free helpline: 1800-345-7885
  • Proactively reaches workers in migration-prone areas
  • Provides information on government schemes, legal rights, and support services

MiRC (Migration Information & Resource Centre)

  • Network of 11 NGOs
  • Tracks migration from western and coastal Odisha
  • Follows up rehabilitation of released bonded labourers in 7 districts
  • Provides ground-truth data that government statistics miss

Non-Resident Odia (NRO) Facilitation

  • NRO Cell established in the office of the Chief Resident Commissioner (CRC), Government of Odisha, New Delhi
  • Works as liaison between Odisha government and Odia diaspora globally
  • Organized as a Public-Private-People-Partnership (PPPP) model

Source: NRO Cell | RC Odisha

Political Dimension: “Dadan Khati” as Election Issue

  • In 2024 elections, BJP used “Dadan Khati” (poor labourers leaving the state) as a weapon against BJD’s 24-year rule
  • Naveen Patnaik contested from Kantabanji (migration hub) as his second seat — and lost to BJP’s Laxman Bagh by 16,344 votes
  • ~200,000 voters in western Odisha effectively disenfranchised by migration
  • Berhampur (Ganjam) recorded only 63% turnout of 1.6 million voters — lowest, attributed to migrant absence
  • 70,000 fisherfolk from Gopalpur/Chhatrapur returned from southern states to vote

Sources:

DATA GAPS AND RESEARCH NOTES

What We Don’t Know (and Should)

  1. No current Census data. The 2011 Census is 15 years old. The 2021 Census was never conducted. The National Migration Survey 2026-27 will be the first comprehensive update.

  2. No reliable aggregate of Odias living outside Odisha. Estimates range from 12.71 lakh (Census 2011, certainly an undercount even then) to 20-25 lakh (aggregated from multiple source estimates). COVID-19 return data suggests the real number is significantly higher.

  3. No Odia-specific international diaspora numbers. India’s MEA tracks overseas Indian populations by country but not by state of origin.

  4. No systematic remittance tracking for Odisha. The Rs 2,000 crore/year figure is from 2007 and certainly outdated. Ganjam’s Rs 1,440 crore/year alone (from just one district to Surat) suggests the state total is far higher.

  5. No data on return migration. How many migrants eventually return permanently to Odisha? What skills do they bring back? No study tracks this.

  6. Academic migration unmeasured. The brain drain from Odisha’s universities is anecdotal, not quantified.

  7. Medical professional migration untracked. No data on where Odisha’s MBBS/MD graduates end up.

  8. Post-COVID migration resumption unquantified. Did the same number return to destination states? More? Fewer? No comprehensive follow-up study exists.

SOURCES INDEX

Major Reports and Academic Sources

  1. Census 2011 Snapshot: Out-migration | Journal of Migration Affairs
  2. Odisha State Migration Profile Report (PDF) | CMLS/Human Dignity Foundation
  3. Odisha Migration Survey 2023 | EPW
  4. NSS Report No. 533: Migration in India 2007-2008 (PDF)
  5. Temporary and Seasonal Migration in Odisha (SSRN)
  6. COVID-19-Led Reverse Migration in Odisha | Sage Journals
  7. Do MGNREGA and convergence measures arrest distress migration? | Springer
  8. NITI Aayog National MPI 2023 (PDF)
  9. Constrained Subjectivity: Narratives from Migrant Bonded Labourers | Journal of Migration Affairs
  10. Distress Labour Migration from Western Odisha (IJFMR PDF)
  11. MOSPI Report on Impact of Remittances (PDF)
  12. Caste-based migration and exposure to abuse: Dadan labour migration | Tandfonline
  13. Study of Migration from Ganjam District, Odisha to Gujarat (Working Paper PDF)

NGO Research (Gram Vikas, CMID, Others)

  1. Labour Migration from Rural Odisha: Jagannathprasad Block (PDF)
  2. Labour Migration from Rural Odisha: Surada Block (PDF)
  3. Labour Migration from Rural Odisha: Baliguda Block (PDF)
  4. Labour Migration from Rural Odisha: Rayagada Block (PDF)
  5. Ensuring safe and dignified migration for informal workers | IDR

Investigative Journalism

  1. How Caste Identity Prevails Among Odia Migrant Workers In Surat | IndiaSpend
  2. Living in rooms by looms | Citizen Matters
  3. Synthetic fabric, authentic despair | PARI
  4. In Surat’s power looms, ease of doing business norms leave workers vulnerable | Scroll.in
  5. In Surat’s grimy living quarters, caste is the dividing line | Scroll.in
  6. Ganjam to Surat, caste is the gateway | Scroll.in
  7. Caste on my plate | The Migration Story
  8. Chained by debt: Distress shadows Nuakhai | The Federal
  9. Surat: Cost of a Billion-Dollar Textile Industry | NewsClick
  10. Agents of India’s Migration Express | VOA
  11. Migration Patterns: Dalits prefer Kerala over Gujarat | The Mooknayak
  12. How migration is changing villages in Odisha | IDR
  13. Odisha’s villages of plumbers | Down to Earth
  14. Inside the unofficial plumbing capital of India | The Caravan
  15. Unpacking the migrant economy | The Migration Story
  16. Migration of Dadan Workers from Odisha Rises Sharply | News Insight

Rescue Operations

  1. IJM: Urgent Rescue of 360 People
  2. 247 Rescued from Bonded Labour | IJM UK
  3. Brave 19YO Manasi Bariha Helps Rescue 6000 | The Better India
  4. Nuapada Bonded Labourers Rescued from Karnataka | Pragativadi

COVID-19 Migration

  1. 81 Odia migrant workers arrested in Surat | OrissaPOST
  2. Odia Migrant Worker Beaten To Death By Surat Cops | OdishaBytes
  3. Over 1,000 migrant workers clash with police in Surat | Scroll.in
  4. COVID-19: Can Reverse Migration Help Rural Economy of Odisha? | CBGA
  5. Odisha’s coastal migrants return to where they started | Mongabay
  6. COVID-19 and Migrant Workers | NCDS Working Paper 79 (PDF)

Government and Policy

  1. Odisha Dadan Migration: Patterns and BJP govt response | Organiser
  2. Checking migration: MGNREGA-supplementary | Down to Earth
  3. Voting without voters in Odisha | Down to Earth
  4. ‘Dadan Khati’: BJP’s main question | OpIndia
  5. Orissa Dadan Labour Act 1975 | Lawsisto
  6. Distress Migration: Majhi Government Constitutes Task Force | Odisha Plus
  7. State Action Plan for Inter-State Migrant Workers | Odisha Labour
  8. PAReSHRAM | Odisha Labour
  9. NRO Cell | RC Odisha

Economic Data

  1. Odisha Economic Survey 2025-26 | Pragativadi
  2. Odisha Economic Survey 2024-25 Highlights (PDF)
  3. Odisha unemployment rate at 3.9% | Business Standard
  4. How Poor Is Odisha? MPI | OdishaBytes
  5. Minimum Wages in Odisha 2025 | FactoHR
  6. Gujarat Minimum Wages April 2025 | Simpliance

Placement and Brain Drain

  1. NIT Rourkela Placements 2025 | Careers360
  2. KIIT Placements 2025 | Shiksha
  3. VSSUT Placements 2025 | Careers360
  4. 42 IAS, 67 IPS posts vacant in Odisha | OrissaPOST
  5. Odisha Plumbers Help Qatar Build Infra | OdishaBytes
  6. Next Tech Destination: Odisha as Silicon Coast | Business Standard

Natural Disasters

  1. Cyclone Fani | Wikipedia
  2. Odisha FANI Cyclone Assessment | ReliefWeb
  3. Cyclone Amphan, millions displaced | Mongabay

Diaspora

  1. Odia diaspora | Wikipedia
  2. The Odisha Society of the Americas | Wikipedia
  3. World Odisha Society
  4. National Migration Survey 2026-27 | Drishti IAS

Skill Development

  1. OSDA | Skill Odisha
  2. Odisha Skill Development Project | ADB
  3. Odisha Maritime Academy

Cited in

The narrative series that build on this research.