Socio-Economic Problems of Unorganized Interstate Migrant Workers in Kerala: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Migration as a human phenomenon having historical roots and wider implication has always existed in India. Migration is an integral part of population dynamics. Struggle for survival and the desire for a better life has ever remained the stimulating and stirring force behind migration. Internal migration is a survival strategy for millions of rural people. India’s internal migration is four times more than the international migration with about 100 million internal migrants, which is about one-fifth of India’s labour force. Kerala remains one of the most sought after destinations by unskilled interstate migrants with its high wage rates and sustained availability of job opportunities. The state with significantly high human development index has seen a complex demographic transition and its consequences leading to low availability of native labour force for unskilled, low–valued jobs. According to Post Disaster Need Assessment Report 2018, Kerala has about 3.5 million inter-state migrant workers. Migration even though primarily for economic reasons have wide social, political, cultural, environmental and health implications. Migrant population, being a non-native population, is vulnerable and is exposed to many social problems like social discrimination and stigma, economic exploitation, political exclusion, lack of access to quality health services, lack of safe and decent working and living conditions, lack of access to justice and exclusion from social benefits and welfare schemes. In this backdrop, this study intends to qualitatively explore the socio-economic problems faced by unorganized interstate migrant workers in Kerala.