Determinants of Seasonal Migration of Jharkhand: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

In Jharkhand, migration from rural to urban areas accounted for more than half of seasonal migration flows. In terms of spatial movements, rural–urban migration dominates migration for economic reasons. In Jharkhand seasonal migration is high and it is very high among the socio‐economically deprived and marginal groups. This paper examines the association between seasonal migration and its determining factors, particularly socio‐economic status; it observes that there is a significant negative association between economic status and temporary migration. Socio‐economically deprived and marginal groups such as ST, SC, Muslim, household from lower Monthly Per Capita Expenditure quintile and household having lower land holding have a greater propensity to migrate seasonally, which also reflects its distress‐driven nature. The study has found no significant effects of educational attainment on the propensity to migrate. Our results have numerous potential policy implications, including the design of typical social; security schemes for Jharkhand.