Socio-Economic Impact of Migration

A Study in Bogra District

Migration is a process of human mobility from one end to another. Sometimes it crosses the regional boundaries and or it limits within the boundaries. Migration is defined as a permanent or semi-permanent change of residence of the people. In any means, migration is displacement or dislocation of people due to some man-made or natural causes. This study covers only three Municipal areas of Bogra districts such as Bogra, Sherpur and Shibganj Paurashavas. The study was conducted in 2005 and data were collected from 250 sample population through structured questionnaire. The study has taken an endeavor to see the pattern of mobility of migrated people, changes in their socio-economic backgrounds, causes and overall impacts of migration. This study shows that migration has created both positive and negative impacts in the study areas. Of course, the findings of the study should not be generalized while it is confined only to three Municipalities of the country.

Both landless and landowners have migrated to the study areas. Age, occupation, employment and income opportunities are the important determinants in decision-making of the migrants. A major part of the migrants belong to 26-40 age groups showing the pyramid shape. The permanent migrants are living permanently in the cities and except a few all have left their places with all assets. They are educated and engaged mainly in business and service while the seasonal and daily migrants are mainly rickshaw-pullers and labourers engaged in brick-burning having minimum education. During the lean periods in rural areas, say after harvesting and planting period, they have no works and then they move to cities. Thus, to cope up with their hardship situation, they are compelled to leave their natives either on seasonal or daily basis.

The migrated people, especially the seasonal and daily migrants in the study areas belong to the marginal farmer group and they are vulnerable to poverty and natural calamities. Majority of the people have migrated in pursue of employment and income. That means the root cause of migration  is poverty.  Another very important cause is extreme river erosion in their original place of residence. Every year a huge population of these areas left their natives due to loss of their home caused by the devastating flood. For this reason, most of the respondents are found migrated from Sariakandi, Sonatola, Kazipur and Fulsorighat of the Jamuna belt. These have created a huge pressure of population in the study areas. Findings show that this flow of migration has created both positive and negative impacts in the place of destination and place of origin as well.

Some factors are directly responsible for taking decision to migrate. Mainly poverty and river erosion impel the people to move to the places of destination. Kinship conflict, decline in yield etc. are also other factors of migration. In other way, the people are being attracted by the essentials or in some cases modern amenities of life. The migrants are also induced by some factors like employment, opportunities of good job, civic facilities, business etc to migrate.

Migration can show a rejuvenate effects to a group of people particularly unemployed, poor and marginal farmers. The migrated people have been able to manage to create employment and avenues of income in the towns. Majority of them send the remittances to the close relatives by which they are running their livelihood. The migrants at one end loss their cultivable land, homestead and other assets due to migration, but on the other they have gained some sort of improved life in terms of seasonal or ad hoc jobs and thereby increased income. Thus, the migrated people have become able to cope up with their present life style. They also enjoy modern education facilities in the cities. Of course, migration has created some negative impacts also. The neighborhood tie is not so strong as it was in the village life. They also could not communicate regularly to their family members or relatives. Due to hasty and rapid urbanization population pressure in the periphery has increased. As a result: a) environmental pollution like inadequacy of public toilets and latrines; b) unplanned housing; and c) social crimes are found to occur. These can be removed or at least controlled through undertaking: (i)  package rehabilitation programmes; (ii) innovation of new industrial zones around Bogra; and (iii) planned urbanization.