Analysis of Factors Triggering Distress Migration in Bundelkhnad Region of Central India

Abstract

Bundelkhand region of central India, a major drought affected area of the country, is associated with high level of rural to urban migration. The present study was conducted to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of the migrants and to examine the key factors triggering the migration decision of farm households. The region was facing drought for the fourth consecutive period which had left the population, mainly dependent on agricultural income, out of option than migration. The analysis of the socio-economic profile of migrants showed that majority of the migrants belonged to the age group of 20-39 (70.1 percent) with secondary leavel of education (54.8 percent). Majority of the migrants (81.73 percent) were engaged in unskilled manual labour activities like construction works in destination cities. The various factors triggering migration were related to livelihood security, climatic, agricultural, institutional and socio-cultural aspects.