Migration of populations is a fundamental movement of humankind. Migration from rural areas to urban areas exceeds migration from cities to rural areas around the globe, signifying an increasing urbanization trend. This trend is even stronger in poorer and developing countries. For obvious reasons, these movements require further coordination.)

We now face the need to discuss and understand how this reverse migration unfolds, its consequences and how to address them, and what to pay attention to first, and to work together to ensure the government works efficiently.

Moving to cities

The rural-urban migration has been increasing exponentially, resulting in 47.6% of Mongolia’s population living in Ulaanbaatar as of the end of 2019. The figure was 27.1 % in 1990, 33.1% in 2000, 45.1% in 2010 respectively. The population of Govi-Altai, Zavkhan, Uvs, Arkhangai and Dundgovi decreased in the last two decades (MLSP).

The factors intensifying the population shift include low disaster management capacity in the countryside, better opportunities of education and jobs, as well as improved infrastructure in the city.

The flow of people towards the city has accelerated urbanization. However, it also brought a steep population rise, leading to noise, soil, water pollution and overload on infrastructure.

Ulaanbaatar city administration even imposed restrictions on the registration of incoming residents in 2017-2020. Although the limitation reduced the number of registered people, it did not reduce the number of unregistered citizens, and had no effect on 83 percent of them (IOM, 2021). In 2017, 25,000 citizens registered residency in the capital, and in 2019, 6,800 citizens registered. Unregistered citizens face economic, social, and health risks and cannot access basic social services.

China has used a similar system (hukou) since 1958 and stopped it in cities with a population below 3 million in 2014. In the big cities of our southern neighbor, in addition to paying a registration fee, it is necessary to have a high income, business skills, overseas education, and relatives with the city's "hukou" (Chan and Buckingham, 2008). It is impossible to access either job market, education, or healthcare, without hukou.

In the democratic Mongolia, the constitution provides everyone with the right to choose where to reside and where to work. It was thought that the government understood from its own experience and that of its southern neighbor, that the problem of population migration is not an administrative one, but an economic one. The mayor D.Sumiyabazar has recently proposed the halt of registering new residents in Ulaanbaatar until 2027, but fortunately, the proposal was not approved by the citizen’s representative’s council. The issue is growing in size and complexity, but the solution is still stuck.

Reverse migration or the movement of population to the rural areas

One way of reducing urban concentration is the migration from cities to the countryside or the so-called “reverse migration”. Between 2015 and 2020, a total of 43,478 citizens moved from the city to the countryside, including more than 3,000 people in Tov, Selenge, and Orkhon provinces each (NSO). There is limited information on reverse migration. The stories of families doing so are varied, and we have found some successful cases.

Let's briefly present some successful cases of the families that were invited to the "Reverse Migration" discussion held recently in Ulaanbaatar. One example is the young family of Ch. Yeruultuvshin and S. Buyantogtokh which moved from the capital to Durgan Soum, Khovd Province and found a way to work and live while sharing their stories with the country on social networks. It is estimated that residents in UB spend an average of 845 hours a year in traffic jams. Spending this time learning foreign languages and improving their education, this couple has established an English language club at the Soum Center and is training citizens in digital literacy. (FB: countrysidefamily/хөдөөний айл)

We can also highlight the stories of few individuals, for instance G. Amarzaya (fb: Zaya Guna), who has a master’s degree from Ireland and runs a successful pastry business (Batmax Co) in Zavkhan province since having relocated from Ulaanbaatar to her hometown; Doctor B. Tuvshin (fb: Tuvshin Bayasgalan), who moved to Khuvsgul province and performed numerous cancer surgeries that spared the transportation cost for many patients; Kh. Erdenebulgan (fb: Монгол овогт Хишигийн Эрдэнэбулган), a former journalist at the National Broadcaster who is running a high-yield animal husbandry after moving to his hometown of Bulgan province; and J. Oyunchimeg (fb: Oyunchimeg Batzuu), who started a sewing factory in Uvurkhangai and created many jobs.

These people mentioned the advantages of moving to the countryside such as fresh air, live without traffic jams, school classes with fewer students, closer relationships with people, and great business opportunities. All of them noted that for the first time in the history of Mongolia, the internet is available in all provinces and soums of Mongolia, most of which are connected by paved roads, and the possibility to buy anything or learn any skill from anywhere in the world.

There is a shortage of residential apartments, commercial spaces and specialized human resources that are essential for the movement to the rural areas. University students usually move to the city and start a family, bringing their parents to look after their children. The employment fund for supporting businesses is hard to access with its complex terms and conditions.

Many young people have the will to move to the countryside, but they hesitate as they lack information. If they are pointed in the right direction and have their professions linked to the rural areas, the shift will take place more.

A uniform business producing neat, clean and uniforms up to standard suited for the local conditions for students and the military organizations at the provincial capitals, for example, can become a business running all year round. Moreover, there is a high need for ger covers and national costumes in all provinces. If they manage to start a sewing workshop, install modern machines, and train workers, they can make 2-5 million tugriks per month. It is commendable that under the new revival policy of Mongolia, the establishment of factories in rural areas is exempted from taxes.

Moving forward, it is time to pay special attention to the ensuring of a high salary for jobs, providing good English language teaching and learning opportunities in rural areas and educating the local residents. It is necessary to support the development of the provincial capitals through economic measures, including tax and other means. For example, if the national Naadam celebrations are held in every province, rotating every year through competitive selection like the Olympics, will have a tangible impact on the domestic tourism industry.

I urge the government to look at reverse migration as an opportunity instead of perceiving it as developmental hindrance.

2022.07.06

Trans. by Riya.T and Munkh-Erdene.D