PhD

The study entitled “tribal labour migration of Wayanad district: an impact analysis”
was undertaken during 2016-2020at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with the major
objectives of studying the impact of tribal labour migration on the livelihood of tribespeople
and the agricultural situation of Wayanad district. Factors influencing the tribal labour
migration and their migration proneness were also studied.
The study was conducted in all the four blocks of Wayanad district viz.,
Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta and Panamaram. From each block 30 tribal
migrants, 10 tribal non migrants and 10 non tribal significant other respondents were selected
randomly making a total of 200 respondents. The data collected were statistically analysed
using arithmetic mean, percentage, correlation analysis and non parametric test.
The study revealed that half of the respondents had medium level of livelihood capital
index before migration. Most of the tribal migrants possessed medium level of human capital,
social capital, natural capital and financial capital before migration. A lion share (61.66%) of
the respondents had low level of physical capital before migration.
The analysis of livelihood after migration revealed that more than half (60.83%) of
the tribal migrants had high livelihood capital index after migration. Immense increase
(30.6%) in physical capital of tribespeople due to migration was obvious from study results
and it was remarkable for tribes belonging to Kattunaikan and Paniya communities. This
caused a temptation for migration among tribal non migrants. A substantial number (85.83%)
of tribal migrants had medium social capital and 73.33 per cent had medium of human capital
after migration. There was a decrease in the social capital of tribespeople due to migration
and this was an indication that tribal migrants were not actively involving in the social
activities. After migration 83.33 per cent of tribal migrants had only low natural capital. This
tremendous decrease in natural capital indicate poor use of natural resources by tribespeople.
Majority (70.83%) of the tribal migrants had a high financial capital after migration. The
increase in the financial capital and physical capital was highly significant in uplifting the
livelihood capital index of tribal migrants.
Sixty five per cent of the tribal non migrants had high livelihood capital index.
Globalisation has also affected the life style, food habits and education of tribespeople.
Cultural changes were observed among the young tribespeople and many of them have turned
to non agricultural labour activities. This also helped them to achieve higher financial capital
and there by increased livelihood capital index.
Analysis of the relationship between the dependent variable livelihood capital index
and profile characteristics of tribespeople revealed that, viz. age, annual income, education,
land holding, experience in agriculture, level of aspiration and economic motivation
correlated significantly. Marital status and wage per day correlated significantly to livelihood
capital index before migration while they were not significant after migration.
Most of the tribal migrants had medium migration proneness. Young tribespeople
were found to be more prone to migration than middle or old aged tribespeople. Majority of
the tribal non migrants had lower migration proneness and they assumed that for a sustainable
livelihood, migration is not a necessary factor. On correlation analysis it was found that
education, wage per day, political orientation, type of house, level of aspiration and risk
preference positively and significantly correlated with migration proneness whereas age,
marital status, debt and experience in agriculture correlated negatively with migration
proneness.
Regarding the nature of migration of tribal migrants, majority of the migrants were
daily and seasonal migrants and none of them migrated permanently. A higher percentage of
tribal migration was interstate. They migrated mostly to Coorg area via Kutta region of
Thirunelli Panchayath and Karnataka via Mysore road to work as agricultural labourers
mainly for ginger cultivation. The entire tribal migrants moved in groups and the decision to
migrate was induced rather than self chosen. Majority of tribal migrants went for agriculture
labour work and were non registered migrants.
Unemployment or loss of employment was the main push factor for migration. Low
wages, poverty, malnutrition, small holding, landlessness, decline of natural resources,
frustration, alienation from community and indebtedness were other major push factors of
migration. Superior opportunity for employment was the main pull factor for migration.
Better job security, superior opportunity to earn higher income, opportunity to obtain desired
specialization, education, skill or training and better food were other major pull factors of
migration.
Scarcity of agricultural labourers was the major consequence of tribal labour
migration, which in turn caused a decrease in agricultural land area. Change in the cropping
pattern of Wayanad district, use of agricultural land for non agricultural purposes and
immigration of agricultural labourers from other states to Wayanad were found to be other
consequences of tribal labour migration. Shortage of skilled labourers, significant change in
wage structure and decline of indigenous knowledge were also the results of tribal labour
migration.
In the light of the study some of the important policy prescriptions for the
consideration of the government are (i) create better local job opportunities in the agriculture
sector (ii) strengthen police patrolling in the tribal colonies to control illegal marketing of
alcohol (iii) implement stringent registration procedures for tribal who are migrating (iv)
evaluate the livelihood of tribal migrants periodically (v) formulate new programs and
activities to conserve the traditional life style of tribespeople (vi) open and maintain
rehabilitation centers in tribal areas to reduce alcohol addiction among tribal migrants (vii)
initiate counseling and guidance centers for tribal migrants (viii) conduct regular inspections
at migratory places to discourage exploitation of tribespeople (ix) ensure decent and
indiscriminating wage structure for tribespeople in their native places.