The states of East Punjab (hereafter Punjab) and Kerala both have a long and continuing history o... more The states of East Punjab (hereafter Punjab) and Kerala both have a long and continuing history of significant overseas emigration and inter-diasporic migration, albeit with distinct dynamics, destinations and implications. The relationship between international migration and economic growth and development within India is an emerging area of key research and policymaking within the nation. In particular, intense and increasing scrutiny and legislation is being applied to the enhanced social mobility apparently enabled by overseas migration, and to the remittances, investments and philanthropic donations transmitted “home” by Indian diasporic communities living abroad. Punjab and Kerala record some of the highest levels of overseas remittances in the world, let alone within India (Upadhya and Rutten 2012). In this context, the two states are often held up as exemplars of the overseas migration-regional development nexus, as models for other Indian states to follow (Zachariah et al 2...
Kerala, the leading state in population ageing in India (Census 2011) is not free from elder abus... more Kerala, the leading state in population ageing in India (Census 2011) is not free from elder abuse. One ironical situation at this point is that elderly people suffer not only from members who are outside their family but also in their own homes from family members inflicting harassment, torture, and other types of ill-treatment. In this context, it is very important to understand the multiple aspects of this problem. This chapter is such an attempt which tries to examine the risk factors leading to elder neglect and abuse within the family. It also tries to discover the relationship of the abuser with the elderly victim. Attempts have also been made to understand the forms of elder abuse. The consequences of elder abuse by a family member are also studied here. As this study will show, risk factors for elder abuse operate at multiple levels. Elder abuse and neglect may take various forms ranging from mere verbal abuse to physical and mental torture and exploitation. In many cases reported in the study, instances of discourteous conduct towards elderly people come especially from their own children, children-in-law and grandchildren. Elderly people who fall victim to abuse, neglect and abandonment not only suffer from the visible or audible forms of pain infliction but also carry a sense of mental distress with them. Some after-effects of elder abuse are quite intense and stay with elderly people till their last breath.
This chapter looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on internal migrants in India. Accordin... more This chapter looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on internal migrants in India. According to the 2011 Census, there are over 450 million internal migrants, of which a massive 54 million are inter-state migrants. A large number of these migrants consist of labourers who comprise a huge percentage of the informal sector workforce, both in the rural and urban areas of India, and are vital to the country’s economy. These workers are also some of the most vulnerable, with inadequacies in terms of working conditions and coverage of social safety nets, and are also largely absent from India’s policy discourses. This chapter highlights the size and extent of internal migration as well as its distribution across different states in India. It shows how the current crisis and lockdowns have affected their lives and livelihoods. It particularly looks at the responses of central and various state governments – at destinations and origins – to ensure migrants’ wellbeing. It also analyses...
The three rounds of the National Family Health Survey have generated vast amounts of data, which ... more The three rounds of the National Family Health Survey have generated vast amounts of data, which unfortunately have been subject to only limited critical examination by Indian research scholars, though the opposite is the case with scholars outside India. The nfhs-3, which was conducted in 2005-06, covered many more areas than the previous surveys and collected information in new and sensitive areas like sexual behaviour. However, there are questions about the quality of data thrown up by nfhs-3. Information on some indicators such as fertility and infant mortality remains of reasonably good quality, but the data on nutrition, immunisation, and gender violence is suspect. There have been three of these very large surveys since 1992-93, and it is perhaps time to reflect on the experience so far and plan for the next survey a decade after nfhs-3 which would be five years after the 2011 Census.
In my final editorial, as the Editor-in-Chief of Migration and Development, I look back at my tim... more In my final editorial, as the Editor-in-Chief of Migration and Development, I look back at my time as a migration scholar for close to three decades and the ways in which the field has slowly expanded, giving rise to platform such as this journal for migrant scholars globally to showcase their ideas on the various facets of migration and development. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the future of migration and gaining a clear picture of the world at hand is imperative. What will be the effect of this virus on mobility across and beyond borders? This article examines the role of large scale migration surveys in understanding that future. Focusing on the example of Kerala, the article highlights the role of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) which has provided data on stocks of emigrants, return emigrants, cost of migration, use of remittances and migration corridors since 1998 The article shows how the Government of Kerala effectively utilized this data to manage the spread of the pandemic and its subsequent socioeconomic impact on individuals, communities and society and organize policies and programs as well as to prepare for eventual return migrants for their integration and rehabilitation. Given that the KMS model has been successfully replicated in some of the major states in India, we proposed the KMS model to be replicated nationwide as an India Migration Survey and globally, given the challenges to come in terms of new emerging trends and patterns of migration in post-pandemic world.
A decade ago, the Centre for Development Studies started migration research based on large-scale ... more A decade ago, the Centre for Development Studies started migration research based on large-scale field surveys covering the whole of Kerala State as a one-time study. However, it soon developed itself as an ongoing project called Migration Monitoring Study, Kerala (MMS). This report gives the results of the latest of these studies (fourth in the series) carried out during August-December, 2008. It provides the latest hard data on emigration, return emigration and remittances to Kerala. This study, reminiscent of the preceding ones, has brought out some unexpected goings-on in the migration trend in Kerala. The first of these unexpected events is the large increase in emigration and return emigration since 2003. The common belief was that emigration from Kerala would decline as a result of the global recession in the Gulf countries and other principal destination countries of Kerala emigrants. Yet, the facts contradict that belief.
This Working Paper embodies the results of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2011. It is the fift... more This Working Paper embodies the results of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2011. It is the fifth in the series of comprehensive studies on international and internal migration from Kerala being undertaken by the Centre for Development Studies since 1998. Over the years, some broad patters on migration have emerged from these studies. Some of these are enumerated in this abstract.
The Covid-19 pandemic has directly affected the millions of migrant workers in Gulf countries, mo... more The Covid-19 pandemic has directly affected the millions of migrant workers in Gulf countries, mostly employed as temporary labour in construction and allied sectors. The Gulf region historically has been the most favoured destination for such jobs. However, the pandemic crisis has halted construction projects in these countries as the drastic fall in oil prices has affected Gulf oil and non-oil economies severely. This has had an adverse effect on Indian migrant workers as they face the threat of unemployment, leading to their voluntary or forced return to India. For example, at the end of 2020, half a million Kerala emigrants, most of them in the Gulf, had lost their jobs abroad due to the pandemic, making their return inevitable given their temporary status in these countries. This chapter examines how India is prepared to handle the changing trends in Indo-Gulf migration corridor and the subsequent return emigration from the Gulf. The chapter highlights major sending-state persp...
This Working Paper is about Videsha Malayalikal, or Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It provides th... more This Working Paper is about Videsha Malayalikal, or Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It provides the size, trend, geographical distribution, socio-economic composition of migrants, and remittances sent back by the migrants. The situation with respect to migration in 2004 is compared with that in 1999. The main focus of the study is, however, the analysis of the social and economic consequences of emigration on Kerala society. What have been the macroeconomic consequences of emigration? What are its impacts on human resources development, employment, unemployment and household consumption patterns? To what extent has the large-scale emigration from the state been beneficial to the Kerala society? Has emigration been a factor in Kerala's high unemployment rate?
This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migration. The rapid spread of the pandemi... more This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migration. The rapid spread of the pandemic caught countries across the world off guard, resulting in widespread lockdowns that clamped down on mobility, commercial activities and social interactions. In India, the pandemic precipitated a severe 'crisis of mobility', with migrant labourers in many major cities seeking to return to their hometowns. Their desperate attempts to return home by any means available rendered the lockdown ineffective in several areas, prompting clashes with authorities, last-minute policy relief and, eventually, the arrangement of transport measures. This paper aims to shed light on the vulnerability of India's internal migrants in terms of their mobility, gender and mental health. In addition, it critically analyses the limitations of public policy in addressing migrants and suggests recommendations for the way ahead.
The states of East Punjab (hereafter Punjab) and Kerala both have a long and continuing history o... more The states of East Punjab (hereafter Punjab) and Kerala both have a long and continuing history of significant overseas emigration and inter-diasporic migration, albeit with distinct dynamics, destinations and implications. The relationship between international migration and economic growth and development within India is an emerging area of key research and policymaking within the nation. In particular, intense and increasing scrutiny and legislation is being applied to the enhanced social mobility apparently enabled by overseas migration, and to the remittances, investments and philanthropic donations transmitted “home” by Indian diasporic communities living abroad. Punjab and Kerala record some of the highest levels of overseas remittances in the world, let alone within India (Upadhya and Rutten 2012). In this context, the two states are often held up as exemplars of the overseas migration-regional development nexus, as models for other Indian states to follow (Zachariah et al 2...
Kerala, the leading state in population ageing in India (Census 2011) is not free from elder abus... more Kerala, the leading state in population ageing in India (Census 2011) is not free from elder abuse. One ironical situation at this point is that elderly people suffer not only from members who are outside their family but also in their own homes from family members inflicting harassment, torture, and other types of ill-treatment. In this context, it is very important to understand the multiple aspects of this problem. This chapter is such an attempt which tries to examine the risk factors leading to elder neglect and abuse within the family. It also tries to discover the relationship of the abuser with the elderly victim. Attempts have also been made to understand the forms of elder abuse. The consequences of elder abuse by a family member are also studied here. As this study will show, risk factors for elder abuse operate at multiple levels. Elder abuse and neglect may take various forms ranging from mere verbal abuse to physical and mental torture and exploitation. In many cases reported in the study, instances of discourteous conduct towards elderly people come especially from their own children, children-in-law and grandchildren. Elderly people who fall victim to abuse, neglect and abandonment not only suffer from the visible or audible forms of pain infliction but also carry a sense of mental distress with them. Some after-effects of elder abuse are quite intense and stay with elderly people till their last breath.
This chapter looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on internal migrants in India. Accordin... more This chapter looks at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on internal migrants in India. According to the 2011 Census, there are over 450 million internal migrants, of which a massive 54 million are inter-state migrants. A large number of these migrants consist of labourers who comprise a huge percentage of the informal sector workforce, both in the rural and urban areas of India, and are vital to the country’s economy. These workers are also some of the most vulnerable, with inadequacies in terms of working conditions and coverage of social safety nets, and are also largely absent from India’s policy discourses. This chapter highlights the size and extent of internal migration as well as its distribution across different states in India. It shows how the current crisis and lockdowns have affected their lives and livelihoods. It particularly looks at the responses of central and various state governments – at destinations and origins – to ensure migrants’ wellbeing. It also analyses...
The three rounds of the National Family Health Survey have generated vast amounts of data, which ... more The three rounds of the National Family Health Survey have generated vast amounts of data, which unfortunately have been subject to only limited critical examination by Indian research scholars, though the opposite is the case with scholars outside India. The nfhs-3, which was conducted in 2005-06, covered many more areas than the previous surveys and collected information in new and sensitive areas like sexual behaviour. However, there are questions about the quality of data thrown up by nfhs-3. Information on some indicators such as fertility and infant mortality remains of reasonably good quality, but the data on nutrition, immunisation, and gender violence is suspect. There have been three of these very large surveys since 1992-93, and it is perhaps time to reflect on the experience so far and plan for the next survey a decade after nfhs-3 which would be five years after the 2011 Census.
In my final editorial, as the Editor-in-Chief of Migration and Development, I look back at my tim... more In my final editorial, as the Editor-in-Chief of Migration and Development, I look back at my time as a migration scholar for close to three decades and the ways in which the field has slowly expanded, giving rise to platform such as this journal for migrant scholars globally to showcase their ideas on the various facets of migration and development. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the future of migration and gaining a clear picture of the world at hand is imperative. What will be the effect of this virus on mobility across and beyond borders? This article examines the role of large scale migration surveys in understanding that future. Focusing on the example of Kerala, the article highlights the role of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) which has provided data on stocks of emigrants, return emigrants, cost of migration, use of remittances and migration corridors since 1998 The article shows how the Government of Kerala effectively utilized this data to manage the spread of the pandemic and its subsequent socioeconomic impact on individuals, communities and society and organize policies and programs as well as to prepare for eventual return migrants for their integration and rehabilitation. Given that the KMS model has been successfully replicated in some of the major states in India, we proposed the KMS model to be replicated nationwide as an India Migration Survey and globally, given the challenges to come in terms of new emerging trends and patterns of migration in post-pandemic world.
A decade ago, the Centre for Development Studies started migration research based on large-scale ... more A decade ago, the Centre for Development Studies started migration research based on large-scale field surveys covering the whole of Kerala State as a one-time study. However, it soon developed itself as an ongoing project called Migration Monitoring Study, Kerala (MMS). This report gives the results of the latest of these studies (fourth in the series) carried out during August-December, 2008. It provides the latest hard data on emigration, return emigration and remittances to Kerala. This study, reminiscent of the preceding ones, has brought out some unexpected goings-on in the migration trend in Kerala. The first of these unexpected events is the large increase in emigration and return emigration since 2003. The common belief was that emigration from Kerala would decline as a result of the global recession in the Gulf countries and other principal destination countries of Kerala emigrants. Yet, the facts contradict that belief.
This Working Paper embodies the results of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2011. It is the fift... more This Working Paper embodies the results of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2011. It is the fifth in the series of comprehensive studies on international and internal migration from Kerala being undertaken by the Centre for Development Studies since 1998. Over the years, some broad patters on migration have emerged from these studies. Some of these are enumerated in this abstract.
The Covid-19 pandemic has directly affected the millions of migrant workers in Gulf countries, mo... more The Covid-19 pandemic has directly affected the millions of migrant workers in Gulf countries, mostly employed as temporary labour in construction and allied sectors. The Gulf region historically has been the most favoured destination for such jobs. However, the pandemic crisis has halted construction projects in these countries as the drastic fall in oil prices has affected Gulf oil and non-oil economies severely. This has had an adverse effect on Indian migrant workers as they face the threat of unemployment, leading to their voluntary or forced return to India. For example, at the end of 2020, half a million Kerala emigrants, most of them in the Gulf, had lost their jobs abroad due to the pandemic, making their return inevitable given their temporary status in these countries. This chapter examines how India is prepared to handle the changing trends in Indo-Gulf migration corridor and the subsequent return emigration from the Gulf. The chapter highlights major sending-state persp...
This Working Paper is about Videsha Malayalikal, or Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It provides th... more This Working Paper is about Videsha Malayalikal, or Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It provides the size, trend, geographical distribution, socio-economic composition of migrants, and remittances sent back by the migrants. The situation with respect to migration in 2004 is compared with that in 1999. The main focus of the study is, however, the analysis of the social and economic consequences of emigration on Kerala society. What have been the macroeconomic consequences of emigration? What are its impacts on human resources development, employment, unemployment and household consumption patterns? To what extent has the large-scale emigration from the state been beneficial to the Kerala society? Has emigration been a factor in Kerala's high unemployment rate?
This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migration. The rapid spread of the pandemi... more This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migration. The rapid spread of the pandemic caught countries across the world off guard, resulting in widespread lockdowns that clamped down on mobility, commercial activities and social interactions. In India, the pandemic precipitated a severe 'crisis of mobility', with migrant labourers in many major cities seeking to return to their hometowns. Their desperate attempts to return home by any means available rendered the lockdown ineffective in several areas, prompting clashes with authorities, last-minute policy relief and, eventually, the arrangement of transport measures. This paper aims to shed light on the vulnerability of India's internal migrants in terms of their mobility, gender and mental health. In addition, it critically analyses the limitations of public policy in addressing migrants and suggests recommendations for the way ahead.
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Papers by Irudaya Rajan