Tamil Nadu has, throughout history, received large numbers of in-migrants, many of whom subsequently became part of Tamil society. Equally, the Tamil region has had a long tradition of out-migration, including international migration as indentured labour on colonial plantations. However, unlike its neighbouring state of Kerala, there is a dearth of comprehensive studies, as well as reliable databases, on migration from Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Migration Survey 2015 provided significant insights for the first time into the state’s migration flows based on 20,000 households. In the first study of its kind, Tamil Migrants highlights the survey data and provides new data on internal and international migration from Tamil Nadu by combining analyses of demographic, social and economic factors.

The themes explored in the book are diverse, ranging from the demography of Tamil Nadu, its migration history, current migration patterns and their implications, to internal and international migration.

The chapters discuss all aspects of migration in Tamil Nadu­­­, including types of migration, cost of financing and remittances, the crucial impact of migration on employment, human development, and the elderly, and an analysis of the experiences of return migrants, their families and the community.

Through interpretations of Census and large-scale survey data, the authors also put forward recommendations on inter-state migration policies and development outcomes.