Title: Impact of foreign remittances: a case study of Chavakkad village in Kerala.

POPLINE Document Number: 018176

Author(s):

Prakash BA

Source citation:

Economic and Political Weekly, 1978 Jul 8;13(27):1107-11.

Abstract:

Many Keralites are working abroad and their families depend to a great extent on the money sent by them. This study attempts to examine the impact of foreign money in Kerala (India) based on a survey of 95 households in Chavakkad village. The village was selected as the study area because a large number of persons have left the village for Gulf countries. The area is backward and the main occupation of the people is agriculture. The only industrial activity worth mentioning is beedi making, which provides employment to about 5000 persons. 1 to 3 persons had gone abroad from the 95 households, and the total number of persons abroad was 136. An inquiry as to the previous job of the persons working abroad revealed that 49 of them were unemployed before going abroad. The remainder were employed as beedi makers, tailors, small businessmen, helpers in shops, hotel workers, drivers. 14 persons refused to provide information on previous jobs. Many of the migrants were able to go abroad because of the help provided by persons already at work abroad. 34 persons were helped by relatives, 23 by friends, and 21 went by launch. 21 persons went to Gulf countries in launch from Bombay without any travel documents, but later they obtained the visa and the necessary documents. The 136 persons had gone abroad since the early 1950s but 94 of the 136 had left in the 1970s. Of the 136 persons, 19 were working as construction workers, 18 as hotel workers, 15 in partnership small business, 9 as military helpers, 9 as tailors, 8 as drivers, 4 each as clerks, typists, and houseboys. Other jobs include petrol bunk helper, welder, and carpenter. Money was not received from abroad regularly every month. In a majority of cases, money was sent once in 2 or 3 months. In some cases, money was also sent through a friend who comes home for vacation. 59 persons sent a sum ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 750, each per month, to their respective families. 15 persons sent a sum ranging from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1250, each permonth. Of the 102 persons sending money, most were sending Rs. 400 or more per month. The families receiving money enjoyed fairly good consumption levels. The monthly consumption expenditure varied between Rs. 250 and Rs. 1000. The majority of the households possessed either a radio or a transistor. There has been substantial investment in land and houses. The increasing demand for land has resulted in an increase in the price of land within a 5-year period. The entire income earned by the persons working abroad is either being used for consumption or invested in land and houses.

Keywords:

India
International Migration
Migration
Population Dynamics
Migrant Workers
Income
Socioeconomic Factors
Migrants
Consumption
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Demographic Factors
Population
Labor Force
Human Resources
Economic Factors
Macroeconomic Factors