"Climate change is a global phenomenon. Some parts of the earth are more prone and vulnerable to the effects of climate change and it is impacting the lives of the people. The film examines how climate change contributes to the multi-causal nature of migration, and establish the triggers behind migrants' choice to migrate or not to migrate while living in areas affected by environmental change," says Shresth Tayal, area convener, Centre for Himalayan Ecology, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) University.

The 35-minute film looks at disaster and climate stress related migration from three different regions in the country -Uttarakhand, Bundelkhand and Odisha. These three states are already amongst the leading sources for internal migration and have been hit by extreme weather events like floods (Uttarakhand), drought (Bundelkhand region) and cyclones (Odisha), which are likely to become more recurrent and stronger as a result of climate change. The film is divided in three parts: each part is looking at a specific region and is investigating the nature of migration from this region.

"The film's objective is to increase awareness, engagement and advocacy on the intertwined and complex linkages between moving people and changing climate, and to support the mainstreaming of migration into climate change policies," says Tayal.

The film has been built on the policy recommendations of the National Workshop on Migration and Global Environmental Change in India jointly organised by Unesco and the Government Office for Science, Foresight (GOS), United Kingdom, in Delhi last year.

"The government needs to make pro-active policies. Things such as unplanned constructions, regulation of pilgrimage in the mountains for the safety, should be undertaken. If a disaster has taken place, the compensation should be given on time," he concludes.