A study on Socio-Economic Changes of Agricultural Migrants

Aims: The study aims to find out the Socio-Economic changes occurred in the livelihoods of agricultural migrants in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu.

Study Design: Ex-post facto research design.

Place and Duration of Study: Tiruppur district were purposively selected for this study since it is stands third place in Tamil Nadu receiving the migrants. This study was conducted during May 2021.

Methodology: Migrants with agricultural background was selected as respondents for this study. Total sample size of 120 respondents were selected by using snow ball sampling method. To measure socio-economic changes of migrants, socio-economic indicators were identified based on the literature review, discussion with advisory committee members and senior social scientists. The socio-economic indicators identified for measuring socio-economic changes are socio-psychological factors, education, health maintenance and nutrition, housing, occupation, cultural factors, economic changes, social participation and material possession. The primary data was collected with the help of a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. Percentage analysis and cumulative frequency method were used to analyse the data.

Results: In this context, the Socio-Economic changes of agricultural migrants were analysed and discussed with nine sub-headings. The results reveals that majority of the migrants (84.16%) expenditure on education were increased, All the respondents (100%) were able to take balanced diet, Vast majority of the respondents (91.66%) expenditure towards the improvement of the house were changed, Cent per cent of the respondent’s occupation were changed, Most of the respondents (90.00%) expenditure on celebration of festivals were increased, There was a vast change in the income of the majority of the respondents (89.16%), Cent per cent of respondents possess mobile phone and television, The outside contact was increased for most of the migrants (93.33%).Overall more than half (54.70%) of the respondents had medium level of overall socio economic changes.

Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were inter-district rural migrants and the cost of living is high in the urban areas. It might be the reasons for medium level of socio-economic changes.