Labour Migration and Remittance Dynamics: Impacts on the Autonomy of Migrant Wives in Rural West Bengal

MD REJA, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH BENGAL

India's substantial domestic market is driven by large scale internal migrants. This study delves into various facets of domestic remittances, including volume, factors, channels, and economic impact on rural households in the context of the interstate labour out-migration from rural areas of West Bengal, a state in eastern India.The present paper is based on a field survey in rural areas of West Bengal, which includes 2000 migrant households selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. In addition, 1710 migrant wives were interviewed to understand their role in the intra-household matter. The study finds that most migrants mainly migrated to economically better-off states from rural areas of West Bengal. Rural households receive a significant amount of remittances from these migrants, which positively affects the education, health, and overall economic development of the migrant families. Remittance sizes vary significantly amongst rural households; multivariate analysis of the factors influencing remittance sizes among migrant workers shows that the primary determinant of remittance size is the migrants' income at the destination. Women play a central role in decision-making in the utilisation of remittances. The study further observed that remittances are a tool for women’s freedom of movement and economic empowerment, leading to greater control of household decisions.

Keywords: Gender Dynamics

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