Effects of Rural Outmigration on Families Left Behind in Khaira Block of Balasore District

Abstract

Abstract newline newlineMigration of males in the prime age group is a major coping strategy of rural poor to earn a livelihood, which leaves aged, young women and their children back in the rural areas. Absence of the migrant can have serious implication for left-behinds both socially and economically. The current study intended to examine the effects of male outmigration on the left behinds in rural areas of Balasore district in Odisha, focusing on issues like economy, wellbeing, children s education, decision making power and mental health of left-behind women. The study relied primarily on the quantitative data collected using a semi-structured interview schedule administered on 400 households with male out-migrants, selected through a multistage sampling process from 20 villages of Khaira Block. In addition, for drawing a comparison, information was also obtained from 100 sample households from the same locality, having no out-migrant. The study attempted to understand the impact of male out-migration at three different levels (Household, Children and Women), and to achieve the objectives, relevant statistical techniques like percentage distribution, cross tabulation, correlation and regression were used. Findings of the study have been discussed in three core chapters besides two chapters on Introduction, Objectives, Conceptual framework and Methodology and Review of literature and one on Conclusion and Policy Implications. It was found that lack of employment and inadequate income were important causes of out migration. As such, out migration could predominantly accelerate income among the people left out in the rural areas and affected positively the level of socio-economic development. However, the process was also a determinant of increasing responsibility and worsening mental health of left behind women. Further, many other problems were noted too, which asked for some policy intervention towards safeguarding the interest of rural poor and strengthening the village economy through a well-designed livelihood support