IMPLICATIONS OF MIGRATION ON HEALTH AND EDUCATION: RETURNED MIGRANTS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS PERSPECTIVE IN INDIA. A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Bernard Otu, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
Angan Sengupta, Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Management Research, Bangalore
Nikita Jaiswal,, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico

Poor tribal communities migrate from rural to urban areas to tackle their financial hardships. However, limited research has examined the implications of health and educational attainments on migrant households. This study examines the effects of labour migration on household health and education. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions (6–8 participants) were conducted in four tribal communities in India, Data were analysed through an inductive thematic approach. Participants identified inadequate housing and sanitation conditions, with intense and long labour hours as conditions at migration destinations that affect their health. Lack of maternal and child healthcare is staggering at the place of work. Our findings also revealed that temporary labour migrants do not enrol their children in schools; however, the case was different from permanent and long-term migrants who enrol their children in private schools. At their origin, school teachers reported frequent school dropouts, low enrolment, attendance and poor academic achievements among children of migrating households. Gender dynamics and early marriage also influenced these outcomes. The results highlight the negative effects of migration as a livelihood strategy on rural communities, particularly in the health and education of household members, asking for immediate government interventions.

Keywords: Internal Migration and Urbanization, Data and Methods, Migrant Populations and Refugees

See paper.