Devoted to the study of migration, the Thiruvananthapuram-based IIMAD (International Institute of Migration and Development), has recently published highlights of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) report. Which was taken in the year 2023.
As per the KMS report 2023, the number of emigrants from Kerala is around 2.2 million, which is closely similar to 2.1 million, recorded in KMS 2018.
According to the survey, the emigration of students has increased to 250,000 in 2023, while 2018, the number stood at 129,763 in 2018. Which proves, that many young people are preferring to leave the state for education opportunities.
Besides students, the emigration of females from the state, has also escalated to 19.1% in 2023, against 15.8% in 2018. The favorite destination of Kerala women has now become Europe and various Western countries, as its migration accounts to 40.5 per cent.
Every second households of Kerala had one non-resident Keralite at their home. Hence, reflecting the significant presence of migration within the state and their economy.
Out of 20,000 surveyed households, around 16.2% of households had one emigrant, which even though is a marginal decrease, as in 2018, it stood at 17.3 per cent. But if observed in terms of total numbers or in absolute numbers, the total number of non-residents malyalis, it is marginally increased to 4 million, earlier it was 3 million in 2018.
Growth Marginal?
However, KMS survey 2023, also emphasized, that there has been only marginal increase in emigration, which stood at 32,388 in 2023, and out of 14 districts, 9 recorded a considerable decline in emigration. Thus, reflecting a saturation in international migration. But student emigration continues to maintain migration level high.
Unlike previous KMS surveys, there has been a marginal increase in emigrants returning to the state, which now stands 1.8 million against 1.2 million recorded in 2018.
This reverse migration is aided by various factors like worldwide health crisis, breaks in economy, rise in stringent immigration policies and lack of job opportunities etc.
In contrast to emigration, the survey also highlights, that there has been an increase in total remittances to the state after covid-19, which now stands at Rs 2,16,893 crore. In 2018, it was Rs 85,092 crore.
But despite the increase, the number of households getting them has considerably decreased, which stands at 12 percent in 2023. Earlier in 2018, it was 16 percent.
Overall, the migration from the southern state continues to remain high despite the marginal fall due to saturation.