Problem of Migration in Almora District with special reference to Chaukhutia Block

Migration is a process where human beings move from one locality or area to another area. The term migration is often required to the movement of human beings from one administrative division to another. There are two terms used in case migration-emigration and immigration. One is called as ‘emigrant’ when the one leaves its current location or administrative area while called as ‘immigrant’ for the location or the place where the one is entering. Migration, though, is being considered as a phenomenon which has always been an integral part of human civilization; however, migration over and above a normal rate may have long and devastating impacts on the source place of migration. Uttarakhand, one of the 29 states of India, can be an example of high migration where the rate of migration was highest among the four hill states of India in the 2001 census. Migration from hills is an effect of push and pull factors. Push factors force the people to migrate while pull factors attract to migrate to a specific location. Hilly areas of Uttarakhand have various push and pull factors that lead to migration. Unavailability of jobs, poor health facilities or poor education facilities and etc. are some of the important push factors that lead to migration to plain areas such as Haldwani, Dehradun or etc. Present research was conducted in the Bohara Gaon and Bhatkot Chaukhutia Block in the Almora District. In present research, both primary as well as secondary data was used. The study revealed that 48% people were in the process of migration while 38% families had migrated partially followed by 10% families who migrated completely and only 04% families who didn't migrate in any form or who were living or decided to live forever in the villages. The study also revealed a negative correlation between the amount of land holding by a family and members migrating from the family. Unemployment, failure of agriculture and animal husbandry to provide desired income, unavailability of job opportunities, increasing wild boars and monkeys, increasing human-animal conflicts, poor forest and land policy of the state, unavailability of education facilities and medical facilities, etc. revealed as the major push factors of migration from hills to plain area. The study concluded the increasing risk of infiltration, human trafficking and illegal trade across the border. The study also concluded that the agriculture land turned into barren fields and increasing responsibility of women as the male of the family had migrated.