In-migration phenomenon in rural Punjab

The study aims to address the issue of migration from lesser developed regions of the country to Rural Punjab to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of in-migration phenomenon. The formulations of the study are based on the primary data, collected through multi-stage random sampling technique, from two districts viz. Ludhiana and Patiala having high concentration of in-migrants. The selection of blocks and villages marked the second and third stage. At the final stage, a total of 200 in-migrants, equitably distributed over blocks and districts, were selected randomly. The findings conclusively establish that unemployment in the native place is the main factor responsible for initial migration. The dissatisfaction with the suitability of present work either in terms of wages or working conditions led to the movement of the migrants to the second, third or even fourth place. The figures corresponding to wage rates testify that each successive movement has helped the migrant fetch higher wages. The results have demonstrated that the phenomenon of in-migration has yielded strong win-win outcomes for most of the in-migrants by way of increased family welfare.