This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the h... more This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the help of census data during 1951-2011. It also throws light on the present pattern of urbanisation across the districts of the state. The paper finds that, the state West Bengal has witnessed a slow rate of urbanisation particularly after independence which resulted in coming down of the state in all India ranking over the period albeit last decade (2001-2011). In the last decade the state has witnessed an exceedingly high in the number of census towns in comparison with 2001 census adding 525 more census towns in its tally. At the district level, the level of urbanisation varied widely. It is fare enough to say that the dominance of Kolkata city in the urban scenario of the state is perceived very well through out the history of state’s urbanisation process. But it is also important to mention that, so far lagging districts like Maldah, Murshidabad and Bankura have registered an exceeding...
This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the ... more This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the period of 1991-2001 using the Census Data. No doubt West Bengal is still a net in migrating states, but the out migration rate particularly the male out migration rate has increased over the decade. The pattern of out migration is also seemed to be very interesting as more people migrated to the distant states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana which constituted more than one third of the total out-migrants. This paper also addressed the reasons for migration of people to other states. It found that, out of the total interstate outmigrants, the reason 'Work/ employment' was the dominant one behind the movement of male out-migrants, whereas, the reason 'Marriage' was still the most dominant one for female out-migration in both the census years. But it is important to mention that, the male out-migration for 'Work/ employment' has increased while female out-migration for 'Marriage' purpose has decreased, between 1991 and 2001.
Socioeconomic disparity in spatial development in a vast country like India catalyses interstate ... more Socioeconomic disparity in spatial development in a vast country like India catalyses interstate labour migration, transposing thousands of migrant workers into unfamiliar cultural and social settings. Focusing mainly on migrant construction workers from West Bengal moving to Kerala, this article examines the well-being and susceptibility of Bengali migrants. Based on a field survey in Kerala, the study shows that Bengali migrant workers in construction activities get the highest wage rate in India. The majority of them find work regularly. Most Bengali migrants reside in rented accommodations in place of construction sites, as confirmed by many other micro-studies in India. The language barrier among Bengali migrants is a huge problem. It increases Bengali migrants' vulnerability, particularly in finding jobs, bargaining power for equal wages, and accessing Kerala's public health care system.
This article highlights emerging patterns of domestic remittance arrangements among migrant const... more This article highlights emerging patterns of domestic remittance arrangements among migrant construction workers from West Bengal in Kerala that have now become defunct because of COVID-19. Earlier field surveys and in-depth interviews showed how Bengali migrant construction workers, relying on networks of friendship and trust, were learning to remit through formal channels, in contrast with many micro-studies showing the dominant role of informal channels in domestic remittances. High wage rates in Kerala enabled such migrant construction workers to send significant amounts, used for productive activities besides household expenses. However, there were significant changes in arrangements, before COVID-19 enforced a dramatic suspension of remittances, raising important questions about future possibilities.
Large-scale interstate labour migration within India is facilitated by the freedom of movement fo... more Large-scale interstate labour migration within India is facilitated by the freedom of movement for citizens within this huge nation state. However, such internal labour migration within India remains largely unstudied and offers huge scope for gaining significant new knowledge. Focusing particularly on migrant construction workers from West Bengal moving to Kerala, this article specifically examines the motivations of these migrants and the role of social networks in the development of such migration streams. A field survey in Kerala indicates that Kerala’s Gulf connection and rapid demographic transition have resulted in significant reduction of local supplies of labour, thus attracting more migrants from other states in India due to better job opportunities, higher wages and good payment systems. Networks within migrant groups, especially friends’ contacts, are found to be the strongest factor in supporting this migration process.
This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the h... more This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the help of census data during 1951-2011. It also throws light on the present pattern of urbanisation across the districts of the state. The paper finds that, the state West Bengal has witnessed a slow rate of urbanisation particularly after independence which resulted in coming down of the state in all India ranking over the period albeit last decade (2001-2011). In the last decade the state has witnessed an exceedingly high in the number of census towns in comparison with 2001 census adding 525 more census towns in its tally. At the district level, the level of urbanisation varied widely. It is fare enough to say that the dominance of Kolkata city in the urban scenario of the state is perceived very well through out the history of state’s urbanisation process. But it is also important to mention that, so far lagging districts like Maldah, Murshidabad and Bankura have registered an exceeding...
This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the ... more This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the period of 1991-2001 using the Census Data. No doubt West Bengal is still a net in migrating states, but the out migration rate particularly the male out migration rate has increased over the decade. The pattern of out migration is also seemed to be very interesting as more people migrated to the distant states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana which constituted more than one third of the total out-migrants. This paper also addressed the reasons for migration of people to other states. It found that, out of the total inter-state out-migrants, the reason ‘Work/ employment’ was the dominant one behind the movement of male out-migrants, whereas, the reason ‘Marriage’ was still the most dominant one for female out-migration in both the census years. But it is important to mention that, the male out-migration for ‘Work/ employment’ has increased while female out-migration for ‘Marriage’ purp...
This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the h... more This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the help of census data during 1951-2011. It also throws light on the present pattern of urbanisation across the districts of the state. The paper finds that, the state West Bengal has witnessed a slow rate of urbanisation particularly after independence which resulted in coming down of the state in all India ranking over the period albeit last decade (2001-2011). In the last decade the state has witnessed an exceedingly high in the number of census towns in comparison with 2001 census adding 525 more census towns in its tally. At the district level, the level of urbanisation varied widely. It is fare enough to say that the dominance of Kolkata city in the urban scenario of the state is perceived very well through out the history of state’s urbanisation process. But it is also important to mention that, so far lagging districts like Maldah, Murshidabad and Bankura have registered an exceeding...
This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the ... more This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the period of 1991-2001 using the Census Data. No doubt West Bengal is still a net in migrating states, but the out migration rate particularly the male out migration rate has increased over the decade. The pattern of out migration is also seemed to be very interesting as more people migrated to the distant states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana which constituted more than one third of the total out-migrants. This paper also addressed the reasons for migration of people to other states. It found that, out of the total interstate outmigrants, the reason 'Work/ employment' was the dominant one behind the movement of male out-migrants, whereas, the reason 'Marriage' was still the most dominant one for female out-migration in both the census years. But it is important to mention that, the male out-migration for 'Work/ employment' has increased while female out-migration for 'Marriage' purpose has decreased, between 1991 and 2001.
Socioeconomic disparity in spatial development in a vast country like India catalyses interstate ... more Socioeconomic disparity in spatial development in a vast country like India catalyses interstate labour migration, transposing thousands of migrant workers into unfamiliar cultural and social settings. Focusing mainly on migrant construction workers from West Bengal moving to Kerala, this article examines the well-being and susceptibility of Bengali migrants. Based on a field survey in Kerala, the study shows that Bengali migrant workers in construction activities get the highest wage rate in India. The majority of them find work regularly. Most Bengali migrants reside in rented accommodations in place of construction sites, as confirmed by many other micro-studies in India. The language barrier among Bengali migrants is a huge problem. It increases Bengali migrants' vulnerability, particularly in finding jobs, bargaining power for equal wages, and accessing Kerala's public health care system.
This article highlights emerging patterns of domestic remittance arrangements among migrant const... more This article highlights emerging patterns of domestic remittance arrangements among migrant construction workers from West Bengal in Kerala that have now become defunct because of COVID-19. Earlier field surveys and in-depth interviews showed how Bengali migrant construction workers, relying on networks of friendship and trust, were learning to remit through formal channels, in contrast with many micro-studies showing the dominant role of informal channels in domestic remittances. High wage rates in Kerala enabled such migrant construction workers to send significant amounts, used for productive activities besides household expenses. However, there were significant changes in arrangements, before COVID-19 enforced a dramatic suspension of remittances, raising important questions about future possibilities.
Large-scale interstate labour migration within India is facilitated by the freedom of movement fo... more Large-scale interstate labour migration within India is facilitated by the freedom of movement for citizens within this huge nation state. However, such internal labour migration within India remains largely unstudied and offers huge scope for gaining significant new knowledge. Focusing particularly on migrant construction workers from West Bengal moving to Kerala, this article specifically examines the motivations of these migrants and the role of social networks in the development of such migration streams. A field survey in Kerala indicates that Kerala’s Gulf connection and rapid demographic transition have resulted in significant reduction of local supplies of labour, thus attracting more migrants from other states in India due to better job opportunities, higher wages and good payment systems. Networks within migrant groups, especially friends’ contacts, are found to be the strongest factor in supporting this migration process.
This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the h... more This paper tries to understand the process of urbanisation in the state of West Bengal with the help of census data during 1951-2011. It also throws light on the present pattern of urbanisation across the districts of the state. The paper finds that, the state West Bengal has witnessed a slow rate of urbanisation particularly after independence which resulted in coming down of the state in all India ranking over the period albeit last decade (2001-2011). In the last decade the state has witnessed an exceedingly high in the number of census towns in comparison with 2001 census adding 525 more census towns in its tally. At the district level, the level of urbanisation varied widely. It is fare enough to say that the dominance of Kolkata city in the urban scenario of the state is perceived very well through out the history of state’s urbanisation process. But it is also important to mention that, so far lagging districts like Maldah, Murshidabad and Bankura have registered an exceeding...
This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the ... more This paper tries to examine the migration flow from West Bengal to other states in India for the period of 1991-2001 using the Census Data. No doubt West Bengal is still a net in migrating states, but the out migration rate particularly the male out migration rate has increased over the decade. The pattern of out migration is also seemed to be very interesting as more people migrated to the distant states like Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana which constituted more than one third of the total out-migrants. This paper also addressed the reasons for migration of people to other states. It found that, out of the total inter-state out-migrants, the reason ‘Work/ employment’ was the dominant one behind the movement of male out-migrants, whereas, the reason ‘Marriage’ was still the most dominant one for female out-migration in both the census years. But it is important to mention that, the male out-migration for ‘Work/ employment’ has increased while female out-migration for ‘Marriage’ purp...
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