Migration, Identity Politics and Sustainable Development: The Case of Assam

‘Ethnic strife’ in Northeast India has been based on political contestation over identity, migration and belonging. It can complicate development prospects and raise questions about sustainability. Migration has been a feature of human evolution. Assam has historically experienced the influx of migrants from both within the country and from the neighbouring countries that share borders with it. This has made the state preoccupied with the subject of identity politics, ultimately politicising regional development. The paper aims to examine how political contestation surrounding migration shapes sustainable development priorities in Assam. It examines the state’s historical experiences of migration and ethnic politics, the political disruptions associated with migration related contestation and the implications for economic activity and long-term development planning. It also considers the relationship between urbanisation, migration and environmental pressures in Guwahati, particularly changes in land cover, groundwater recharge potential and the ecological condition of Deepor Beel. The discussion highlights how competing concerns over identity, demographic change and belonging can influence which development issues receive political attention. It argues that sustainable development in Assam cannot be understood through a uniform model detached from regional political, social and environmental contexts. With a primary focus on Assam, this article attempts to examine and assess the challenges that migration presents to "Sustainable Development."