Abstract:
Migration has become a worldwide phenomenon in the 21st
century. Migratory tendencies have been inherent in the context of
Kerala, and it has been shaping the economic and social situation. The
economic boom within the Gulf countries gave migration a considerable
boost, reaching its peak in terms of both numbers and remittances.
Ironically, Kerala, of late, is witnessing a reverse migration of labour.
Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2018 is the eighth in the series of
studies on migration undertaken by the Centre for Development Studies
(CDS) since 1998. The 2018 `1report sheds light on the various issues
concerning migration and mobility. It gathers the fruit of two decades of
research done at the CDS and examines migration dynamics from
demographic, economic and socio-political perspectives. The basic
objectives of the survey are similar to the earlier surveys such as to
estimate migrants from Kerala to various destinations and vice-versa,
their demographic, socio-economic characteristics and to estimate
remittances to Kerala. The report also postulates factors responsible for
the fall of emigration from Kerala. The information given in the report is
based on a large-scale sample survey of 15,000 households. The two
major findings from the study, 2.1 million emigrants from Kerala across
the world as per the KMS 2018, of which 15.8 per cent are females.
However, there is a reduction of 3 lakhs emigrants during 2013-18,
which is one-tenth of the 2013 emigrants. The estimated total remittances
to Kerala is Rs.85092 crores as per KMS 2018, remittances to the state
have increased. This is due to the fact that Keralites in the Gulf have
climbed the social ladder and earn higher wages, allowing them to remit
more.
