Rural Punjab has experienced a consistent increase in emigration over the last three decades, with a recent study conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) shedding light on the trends and preferences of its residents. The study, covering the period from 1990 to September 2022, highlights that 42% of rural residents opt for Canada as their preferred destination, followed by Dubai at 16%, Australia at 10%, Italy at 6%, and less than 3% each for the UK and USA.
The research, led by Professor Shalini Sharma, Professor Manjeet Kaur, and Assistant Professor Amit Guleria from the Department of Economics and Sociology at PAU, delves into the causes and consequences of migration from rural Punjab. The primary data, gathered from 44 villages across 22 districts, involving 9,492 households and interviewing 640 migrants and 660 non-migrant households, reveals significant insights into the dynamics of emigration.
The study underscores a substantial increase in migration since 2016, accounting for 74% of the total emigration observed. Approximately 13.34% of rural households in Punjab have had at least one member migrate to another country, impacting the socio-economic landscape, particularly in districts like Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Ferozepur, where migration rates exceed 30%.
Lack of employment opportunities, underemployment, a corrupt system, and low income emerged as predominant reasons for migration, affecting three-quarters of migrant households. Systemic disorder (62%) and the prevalence of drugs (53%) were cited as additional non-economic factors influencing migration decisions.
The study also unveils specific migration patterns, with males, landless individuals, minimally educated, and Scheduled Castes from Doaba opting for work visas in the UAE. Canada and Australia emerged as dream destinations for the youth and Jat/Sikhs from various farm size categories in Majha and Malwa, primarily on study visas.
Females, constituting 65% of study visa applicants, surpassed males in securing the required IELTS band. Financially, about 56% of households borrowed money to fund migration, with many selling houses and gold ornaments to meet expenses.
However, migration comes with substantial social costs, including loneliness (52%), neglect of the elderly (41%), indebtedness (38%), abandonment of agriculture and parental occupation (30%), and the sale of landholdings and assets (26%).
The study emphasizes the urgent need for employment generation and investment in human capital through skill development, entrepreneurship, and vocational training. The revamping of the economically sluggish agricultural sector requires government intervention and support. Addressing socio-economic and systemic issues related to migration is deemed crucial for ensuring Punjab’s long-term prosperity, as indicated by the PAU study.
Sources By Agencies