The 5th National Conference on “Mobility for a New Era: Rethinking Narratives and Frames of International Migration and Mobility” kicked off at the Hilton Garden Inn here on Monday. The two-day conference is being organized by the International Institute for Migration and Development (IIMAD), Thiruvananthapuram and the World Affairs Council of India, New Delhi.
Renowned sociologist Ajay Bailey, Chair of Geographies of Health, Inclusion and Development, Utrecht University, Netherlands, who delivered the keynote address, emphasized the need to think beyond the social costs of migration and consider the social costs of migrants. Speaking on the occasion, IIMAD President Sheela Thomas highlighted the growing resentment towards migrants in developed countries. Nutan Kapoor Mahawar, Acting Director General/Additional Secretary, Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA), who delivered the keynote address, pointed out that migration discourses need to be reframed through a human-centred perspective on migration.
Chairman of IIMAD, Dr. Irudaya Rajan, who spoke on the occasion, also noted that migration today is being driven by demographic changes. As a demographically young country, India will continue to play a significant role as a labor supplier. According to him, the country thus plays an important role in negotiating a migration policy that benefits migrants. The India Migration Report 2024 was also released during the inaugural session.Dr. KJ Jospeh, Board Member, IIMAD.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 21:17 IST
