posted on 2024-09-05, 22:24authored byK. C. Zachariah, S. Irudaya Rajan
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. The number of
emigrants from Kerala has increased from 13.6 lakhs in 1998 to 18.4
lakhs in 2003 and to 21.9 lakhs in 2008. Simultaneously, the number of
return emigrants has increased from 7.4 lakhs in 1998 to 8.9 lakhs in
2003 and to 11.6 lakhs in 2008. As a result, the number of non-resident
Keralites has increased from 21.0 lakhs in 1998 to 27.3 lakhs in 2003
and to 33.5 lakhs in 2008.
While external migration has increased, internal migration has
declined. The number of out-migrants from Kerala has declined from
11.2 lakhs in 2003 to 9.14 lakhs in 2008. The number of return out migrants
has declined from 9.9 lakhs in 2003 to 6.9 lakhs in 2008. The
traditional tendency of Kerala youths to migrate to Mumbai, Bangalore,
Chennai, Delhi, Calcutta etc for employment is giving way to emigration
to Dubai, Kuwait, and other cities across the globe.
History
Publisher
Centre for Development Studies
Citation
Zachariah, K.C. & S.Irudaya Rajan (2010) Migration monitoring study, 2008 : emigration and remittances in the context of surge in oil prices. CDS working papers, no.424. Trivandrum: CDS.