Exploring the Dynamics of Temporary and Permanent Out-Migration in Rural India: An Empirical Study from Jharkhand

Kunal Keshri, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai
Kirti Gaur, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Mumbai

Migration, particularly for employment, has historically been a significant aspect of people's livelihoods in developing countries, including India. Declining rural employment in India has driven both temporary and permanent out-migration, particularly in Jharkhand, an eastern state with a long history of migration. Severe poverty in rural Jharkhand forces many people to migrate to other states, signalling a deep livelihood crisis. This study explores the recent patterns of labor out-migration from rural areas and examines the factors influencing temporary and permanent migration. A household survey of 440 households in 2021 across 18 villages using multistage random sampling in the remote and hilly district of Chatra revealed a significant labor outflow, with 39% of households having at least one migrant working in states like Gujarat, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Preliminary results suggest that among the surveyed migrants, 82.8% migrated for employment. Of the permanent migrants, 84% moved out of state, compared to 69.7% of temporary migrants. Permanent migrant households received comparatively higher remittances than temporary migrants, who are often the poorest, migrated primarily due to economic distress, a trend that has worsened recently. The study calls for urgent policies to protect migrant workers' rights and address rural poverty, the key driver of migration.

Keywords: Internal Migration and Urbanization, Population and Development, Population Policies, International Migration

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