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In
order to study migration from Kerala, a research project titled 'Migration from Kerala: Social, Economic and Demographic
Consequences' was undertaken by Mr K C Zachariah, Mr E T Mathew and
Mr S Irudaya Rajan of the Centre for Development Studies (CDS). The
research, spread over the latter half of ’99 and the early part of
2000, was the first of its kind. The study, sponsored by CDS, has been
financed by the Indian Council of Social Science Research under its
Indo-Dutch programme on ‘Alternatives in Development’.
First
working paper - Dynamics of migration
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After
World War II and Independence, no. of emigrants drastically
increased
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Now
nearly 1.5 million
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Send
home more than Rs 4000 million a yr
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More
than 1 million families depend on internal
migrants
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4
types - emigrants, return emigrants, out-migrants & return
out-migrants
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Migration
differentials - education, occupation, community and so on
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Root
cause - the Kerala model of Development
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Brought
in vibrant social sector & stagnant production sector
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4
key areas - education, return emigrants, family assistance &
environmental considerations
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Need
to upgrade technical competence of emigrants
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Need
to allow self-financing educational & other institutions
managed by return emigrants
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Suitable
atmosphere to boost self-confidence of return emigrants
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Sensitise
Panchayats & local government bodies to needs of woman-headed
or 2-member households
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Check
environmental problems due to huge mansions of emigrants
Companion issue:
Consequences
The companion
issue starts off with an assessment of the structural and behavioural
changes caused by migration, and goes on to talk of the economic
consequences with a State level analysis and a special study of
Alappuzha and Kasargod districts.
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Positive
effects for nearly 1 million ‘Gulf wives’
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They became
more independent, autonomous,
confident
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In
the long run, this will contribute most to Kerala society’s development
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Reiterates need to rehabilitate return emigrants
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Optimise utilisation of remittances
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Extend support to adversely affected families.
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