Dynamics of climate change and north–south migration in India: the textile industry and Bihar-Tamil Nadu migration corridor

Climate-induced internal migration in India constitutes a critical albeit under-recognized dimension of climate adaptation and development research. Against this backdrop, this study examines the climate dimensions of the north–south migration corridor from Bihar and contiguous regions to Tamil Nadu’s textile industry, investigating how climate risks interact with socio-economic vulnerabilities to shape migration pathways and migrants’ experiences across origin and destination contexts. Drawing on a purposive qualitative inquiry of migrants mainly from Bihar employed in the textile industry in Erode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur, complemented by focused interviews, the study documents lived experiences of direct and indirect climate-linked displacement, precarious work including occupational heat exposure at the destination, gendered differences, and psychosocial stress, alongside migrants’ positive perceptions of migration as a strategy for improving income security. The findings demonstrate that migration is shaped by the interaction of climate and socio-economic vulnerabilities, with climate risks amplifying existing livelihood insecurities rather than migration representing a response to economic distress alone. The paper contributes to India’s development policy discourse and migration-as-adaptation debates by arguing that migration can contribute to climate adaptation when supported through institutional measures, including portable social protection, climate-resilient workplace standards at destinations, and strengthened climate resilience at places of origin.