Pattern and Implication of Youth Migration in the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India

This study examines the youth migration patterns, driving forces, reasons, factors of migration and consequences of out-migration in the Garbwal division of Uttarakhand. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The district Tehri Garbwal comprises of nine blocks out of them two blocks Chamba and Thauldhar were chosen. Four villages Kainchu, Jaspur, Kot and Bhainskoti were selected for the study. Sample of 120 respondents was selected through PPS method. We used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to conduct this study. Data was gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents (40.83%) belonged to 24-32 age groups, (73.33%) were men, 40.84 per cent had intermediate education, (67.50%) belonged to general category, 55.00% had medium family size, majority 40.00 per cent of the respondents were in service, 54.16% had moderate level of achievement motivation, 59.16 per cent had moderate mass media exposure, had less than 1 acre land holding (64.16%), 63.33 per cent had medium level of change proneness. Majority of the respondents (92.50%) had migrated for non – agricultural purpose, (53.33%) had migrated from village to nearby town, (81.66%) had up to 2 migrants in their family, and (69.16%) had medium term of migration (6 to 10 years). Majority of the respondents (64.16%) had high level of push factors of migration, majority of the respondents (59.16%) had medium level of pull factors of migration. The study concludes that the high rate of rural-urban migration is driven by the various forces such as poor socioeconomic conditions, climate, education, unemployment and overall lacking in infrastructural facilities. It was observed that rural-urban migration has several implications both in sending and receiving areas. Development of rural areas through implementing various innovative programmes may control rural-urban migration and develop Suitable strategy for reducing out-migration was suggested.