This chapter looks at the relationship between inequality, labour migration and development in India. It examines migration-inequality-development relationship with a focus on those who are left behind in the process of structural economic transformation and livelihood change in India. While recent years have witnessed substantial rise in labour mobility in India, socio-economic inequalities often mean migration options are not available to all individuals and households, nor are the outcomes same for all members of the participating households. This chapter reviews the implications of labour migration on the left behind populations in India, and intersecting role inequalities play in the process. The paper also identifies the potential implications of being left behind and argues for the need to better understand and address the socio-political and development implications of these processes.
