The Economic Dimension of Labour Migration Cauvery Delta Zone in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Majority are international migrant and interstate migrants, majority (75%) of the respondents in the age groups (21 to 40) migrated to different places like Thiruppur, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kerala and Saudi, Arabia, Dubai, Mascot, Malaysia, and Singapore. Main reasons for migration are low wages, unemployment debt due to failure in agriculture due to lack of rains, more employment opportunities in the destination place and more jobs and a handsome salary which leads to improvement of the living conditions.Such pull and push factors encourage emigration to high-income countries experiencing labour shortages. Emigration has different impacts on sending country and destination country. Low wages and rain-fed agriculture in the native place have been found the economic factors leading to migration, while poverty, poor civic amenities, leading a poor life, high aspirations and demonstration effect were social and psychological factors resulting to migration. Lesser storage of water in delta region consequent on insufficient rainfall in the catchment area does not allow the farmers to Cauvery Delta Zone.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Migration is one of the most significant aspects of glo-balization. Migrants can be defined as people who change their country of residence for a particular time, as one main definition by the World Bank (World Bank Group,2018). People choose or are forced to cross international borders for reasons that include: work opportunities, high poverty rates in their country of residence, war or conflict, and climate change (Brander et al., 2020). According to the European Committee on Migration, “the term ‘migrants’is used ...to refer, depending on the context, to emigrants, returning migrants, immigrants, refu-gees, displaced persons and persons of immigrant background and/or members of ethnic minority populations that have been created through immigration”(European Committee on Migration, 2002). According to Passerini et al. (2007) migration represents mobility and a set of relations between cultures, peo-ples, and identities. In addition to the benefits that migrants bring to both destination country and sending country, in recent dec- ades migration has also involved various UN and international agencies wishing to protect migrants from human rights abuses and human trafficking. Concerns include inferior pay compared to destination country citizens, slave working conditions, human trafficking, and risks to women and children (UNODC, 2018).

Thus, according to Stark, although indi- viduals are engaged in migration, their decision to migrate can be undertaken influenced by other person or group of people such as family; there is more to migration than wage differentials because the labour market would have been equal and fair on the first place it would not have produced wage inequalities, thus there would be no motives for migration on the basis of wage differ- entials (Stark, 1991).

II. CAUVERY DELTA ZONE

Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) lies in the eastern part of Tamilnadu. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east and polk straight on the south, Trichy district on the west, Perambalur, Ariyalur districts on the north west, Cuddalore district on the north and Pudukkottai district on the south west. Cauvery delta zone has a total geographical land area or 14.47 lakh hectare. The east while Thanjavur district (comprised Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam) occupies 5 per cent of Cauvery delta zone followed by Trichy, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Pudukkottai districts.

A. Cauvery River

Cauvery is one of the holistic and great rivers in India. The origin of the river is Talakaveri, Kodagu in Karnataka flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern deccan plateau through the south eastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths in Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu.

B. Cauvery Basin

The Cauvery basin is estimated to be 81,155 square kilometres (31,334sq mi) with many tributaries including the Shimsha, the Hemavati, the Arkavati, Honnuhole, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini, Bhavani river, the Lokapavani, the Noyyal and the Amaravati river. The river's basin covers four states and union territories, as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,856 square kilometres (16,933 sq mi); Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometres (13,233 sq mi); Kerala, 2,866 square kilometres (1,107 sq mi), and Puducherry, 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi). Rising in south western Karnataka, it flows southeast some 800 kilometres (500 mi) to enter the Bay of Bengal. East of Mysore it forms the island of Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 100 metres (330 ft). The river is the source for an extensive irrigation system and for hydroelectric power. The river has supported irrigated agriculture for centuries and served as the lifeblood of the ancient kingdoms and modern cities of South India.

C. Cauvery Delta Zone in Tamilnadu

In the Cauvery delta zone, rice is the principal crop. In the rice based cropping system, it is either single or double cropped. Pulses, blackgram and greengram are next importance grown in the rice follows throughout the delta region from January onwards. Gingelly is also sown in April in prepared fields subsequent to summer showers. In addition money crops, flowers also major crops in the Cauvery delta region. Vegetables like brinjal, chillies and greens are grown during summer months in limited area in the well drained fertile lands depending upon the underground water sources. In light clay soils under garden land condition is brought out where crops like groundnut, maize, gingelly and irrigated pulses and altered. Banana, sugarcane and ornamentals like jasmine, rose, chrysanthemum, crossandra and arali are the annuals occupying the land for more than one year for the successive returns. Coconut gardens, bamboo and wood lots are scattered in the delta in different densities. Mango, jack, citrus, guava, pomegranate, custard, apple etc., are the more prevalent fruit trees in addition to cashew in specific pockets.

D. Grand Anicut Grand

Anicutihe land mark of Cauvery delta region which play a key role in distribution of Cauvery water to all the places in the region. The Chola king Karikalan has been immortalised as he constructed the bank for the Cauveri all the way from Puhar (Kaveripoompattinam) to Srirangam. It was built as far back as 1,800 years ago or even more. On both sides of the river are found walls spreading to a distance of 330 metres (1,080 ft). The Kallanai dam constructed by him on the border between Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur, made with earth and stone, survived for hundreds of years. Even now it becomes a strong and functioning with full capacity. In the 19th century, it was renovated on a bigger scale. The name of the historical dam has since been changed to “Grand Anicut” and stands as the head of a great irrigation system in the Thanjavur district. From this point, the Kollidam River runs north-east and discharges into the sea at Pazhaiyar, a little south of Chidambaram. From river Kollidam, Manniar and Uppanai branch off at lower Anicut and irrigates a portion of Mayiladuthurai taluk and Sirkazhi taluk in Nagapatnam District. After Grand Anicut, the Kaveri divides into numerous branches and covers the whole of the delta with a vast network of irrigation channels in Nagapatnam and Tiruvarur districts and gets lost in the wide expanse of paddy fields.

III. CAUVERY DELTA DISTRICTS

A. Tiruchirappalli

The district has an area of 4403.83 sq.km, it is bound by Perambalur district on the north, Thanjavur district on the east, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts on the south and Karur district on the west. Being a place located centrally in the state, it has excellent transport link to all other districts in the state.

Trichy district has a mean temperature with low humidity. The hottest period is from April to June. The river Cauvery irrigates about 51,000 ha in Trichy, Lalgudi and Musiri divisions. Multi various crops are grown in this district and agriculture is the main occupation for most of the people in the district. Alluvial sandy loam and loam soil constitutes major portion of the central regions, which from the Cauvery delta in the district. In lalgudi, manachanallur and andanallur blocks loamy soil is predominant in the dry tracks of the district.

Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) lies in the eastern part of Tamilnadu. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east and polk straight on the south, Trichy district on the west, Perambalur, Ariyalur districts on the north west, Cuddalore district on the north and Pudukkottai district on the south west. Cauvery delta zone has a total geographical land area or 14.47 lakh hectare. The east while Thanjavur district (comprised Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam) occupies 5 per cent of Cauvery delta zone followed by Trichy, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Pudukkottai districts.

B. Thanjavur district

Thanjavur district is the rice bowl of Tamilnadu. The district stands unique from time immemorial for its agricultural activities and is rightly acclaimed as the granary of the south India. Thanjavur district is located in the eastern coast of Tamilnadu. Erstwhile composite district of Thanjavur was bifurcated into Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts with effect from 18.10.1991. Again in April 1997, when Thanjavur district was formed by bifurcating Nagapattinam district, part of Thanjavur area, namely the Valangaiman block had been merged with the newly formed Thiruvarur district. Thus the present Thanjavur district was formed with a geographical area of 3396.57 sq.km divide into 14 blocks. The area constitutes just 2.6 percentage of the area of the state. In this district has alluvial soil in the Cauvery delta and sandy soil in coastal area are the predominant soil types. The soil type, the climate and rainfall best suit the paddy crop and so the district stands as the rice bowl of Tamilnadu since ancient days.

C. Mayiladuthurai District

Mayiladuthurai (formerly known as Mayavaram or Mayuram) is a town and district headquarter of Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located at a distance of 281 km (175 mi) from the state capital, Chennai. Mayiladuthurai is known for its ancient temples, some of them are the famous Mayuranathaswami Temple, a prominent Shaivite shrine and Parimala Renganathar Temple, a Vaishnavite shrine which are located in the city. All the prominent Navagraha temples are located around Mayiladuthurai.

Mayiladuthurai was ruled by Medieval Cholas and subsequently ruled by various dynasties, including the Vijayanagar Empire, Delhi Sultanate, Thanjavur Nayaks, Thanjavur Marathas and the British Empire. Mayiladuthurai was a part of the erstwhile Tanjore district until India's independence in 1947 and Thanjavur district until 1991 and subsequently a part of the newly formed Nagapattinam district. The town is known for agriculture, and weaving. As Mayiladuthurai is situated in East Coast, fishing plays an vital role on generating it's revenue. Mayiladuthurai is administered by a town panchayat established in 1866. As of 2008, the panchayat covered an area of 11.27 km2 (4.35 sq mi). Mayiladuthurai comes under the Mayiladuthurai assembly constituency which elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years and it is a part of the Mayiladuthurai constituency which elects its Member of Parliament (MP) once in five years. It is well connected by road and rail transport. Mayiladuthurai serves as an important junction in main line connecting Chennai with Trichy. Roadways and Railways are the major mode of transportation to the town. The nearest airport, Pondicherry Airport, is located 116 km (72 mi) from the town.

D. Thiruvarur

Thiruvarur district was formed on 01.01.1997 by carving out nine blocks from the composite Nagapattinam district and one block from Thanjavur district with Thiruvarur as district headquarters. More than 70 percentage of the total workforce is dependent upon agriculture. Around 14 per cent are cultivators and the rest are agricultural labourers. Normal area under cultivation is around 74 percentage of the geographical area. Paddy is the principal crop of the district. It accounted for nearly 65 percentage of the grass cropped area. The district forms part of the rice bowl of Tamilnadu. It is very small district with a total geographical area of 2097.09 sq.km, this constitutes just 1.6 percentage of the area of the state. The entire district contains plain land only. Predominant soil types in the district are sandy, coastal alluvium and red loam. These types of soils are very fertile. Cauvery is the main river flowing in this district. Vennar, Vettar, Koraiyar, Paminiyar, Mullaiyar, Harichandra Nadi, Arasalar, Vanchiar, Nattar are some of the seasonal rivers flowing in this district. Canals extending to a length of around 612 kms supported by the Cauvery system irrigate the entire district.

E. Nagapattinam

Nagapattinam district was carved out of erstwhile Thanjavur district on October 18, 1991. Subsequently it was bifurcated in 1997 as Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. It is a very small district with a total geographical area of 2715.83 sq.km, this constitutes just 2.09 percentage of the area of the state. Agriculture is the principal occupation in the district nearly 65.42 percentage of the total work force is dependent upon agriculture. Nearly 12 percentage cultivators and the rest 54 percentage are agricultural labourers. 55 percentage of the geographical area constitutes net sown area in the district. Paddy is the principal crop of the district. It accounted for nearly 66 percentage of the gross cropped area. District capital Nagapattinam lies on the eastern coast, 350 kms down south of the state capital Chennai and of Tiruchirappalli. Coastal length of the district is 188 kms. Nagappatinam has a coastal area spreading upto 165 kms and marine fishing is practiced in almost 60 villages along the coastline. The district is deprived of any major industries but it is a flourishing centre of cottage and handicrafts industry. Madras refineries limited are the major refinery unit located in the district. Sandy coastal alluvium is the predominated soil type. Cauvery and Vennar are the main rivers flowing in this district. Paddy is the main crop of this district.

IV. OBJECTIVE

To analysis the socioeconomic nature, characteristics and effect of migration works in the study region.

A. Statement of the Problem 

 The population of older persons in India is increasing at a much faster rate than the developed countries. Those aged 60 years and above  constitute  7.4  per  cent  of  the  country's  population  at  present.  The  population  explosion  is  t  LI)  great  concern  as  it  leads  to poverty,  neglect,  abuse,  violence,  crime,  and  more  importantly  overcrowding,  all  of  which  have  direct  relation  with  health  and economic status of the older persons. Aged comprises one of the important vulnerable groups having health problems mostly due to degenerative changes. Thus, social, physical and economic well-being of this group has become challenging issues.

B. Database and Methodology

The  study  has  been  conducted  in  the  Cauvery  Delta  Zone  Tamil  nadu  in  the year 2021, where paddy is the major crop rotation. The paddy belt was purposively chosen as  the  major  agricultural  operations  like  transplanting  of  paddy,  harvesting  in  paddy,  spraying  of  pesticides, etc. are performed mainly by migrant laborers. From this Cauvery  Delta  zone, 5 district namely Tiruchirapplli,  Thanjavur, Mayiladuthuraiai, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam out of majority  agricultural  labor.  agricultural  labor  from  12    villages,  one  from  each    ten  (10)selected  using    migrant  laborers  were  interviewed  making  a each district  total  sample  of  120  respondents,5 district total sample 600 respondents.  The  data  from  selected  respondents were collected by personal interview method using a specially designed schedule. All respondent migrants were classified into two groups, viz. short-term migrants and long-term  migrants.  Migration  during  peak  agricultural  season  being  a  common  feature  in  the  state,  all  persons  who  come  to  Cauvery  Delta  zone peak  periods  and  return  to  their  native  places  within  the  same  year,  were  considered  as  short-term  migrants.  Persons  working  permanently  with  farmers  on  a  yearly  contract  or  year  after-  year  contract  and  visit  their  native place occasionally for a few days, were considered as long-term migrants. Thus, the sample was  comprised of 415 long-term and 185 short-term migrants.  Simple  statistical  tools  like  averages,  percentages,  etc.  were  used  in  the  study.  Students  t-  test  was  used  to  find  the  existence  of  difference  between  the  wage  rates  for  various  agricultural  operations for local and migrated laborers.

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results have been discussed under various subheads:

Socio-economic Profile of Respondents The distribution of in-migrants according to their socio- economic background has been discussed under various heads:

A. Age Group 

According  to  the  socio-economic  profile  (Table  1)  of  the  respondents,  12.3  per  cent  of  the  long-term migrants in Thiruvarur district and 15.7 per cent of the short-term migrants Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam were in the age group of 21-40 years, while6.5 per cent in Mayiladuthuraiai &Nagapattinam and 3.8 per cent Tiruchirapplli were in the age group of 0-20 years, respectively. Thus, the number of migrants was  more in 21-40  years age group because it is the preferred age-segment by employers because laborers in this group can undertake agricultural operations. Also, this age  group has to should majority of the social and domestic responsibilities. The percentage of over- forty years laborers was small, only 2 per cent in Thanjavur& Thiruvarur of the respondents.

B. Gender 

 The gender wise majority 17.6percent inThiruvarur of the respondents were of male migrant in long-term and short-term male migrants in 13.5 percent inThiruvarur. The majority of female migrant in 8.6 percent in Nagapattinam of the respondents were short-term and long-term female migrants in 4.2 percent in Thiruvarur.

C. Caste and Religion 

The  caste  wise  majority  7.9percent in Nagapattinam of  the  respondents  were  of  schedule  caste  category  in  both  long- term and short-term in7.9percent in Nagapattinam migrants. While Forward caste majority 2.2 percent in Mayiladuthurai short term  migrant  and  long  term  migrant  in1.2  percent in Thiruvarur.  As  far  as  the  religion  of  the  long-term  and  short-term migrants was concerned, nearly 75 per cent of the respondents belonged to the Hindu  religion,  While  Christian  majority  5.4percent  in Mayiladuthurai short  term  migrant  and  long  term  migrant  in  2.7 percent in  Nagapattinam.  

D. Educational Level 

 The illiteracy of migrants was an important factor which gave impetus to migration, as revealed by the study. Among long-term migrants, 13.9 per cent were illiterate in Nagapattinam, 5. per cent had studied  up to the primary level in Mayiladuthurai, 1.4per cent up to middle standard in Nagapattinam and only 0.8 per cent up to metric level in Thiruvarur. There were 9.1 per cent in Nagapattinam illiterates among short-term migrants, while 7 per cent had studied up  to the primary level in  Thiruvarur and 4.3 per cent up to middle standard in Tiruchirapplli and only 3.8 per cent per cent were  in Thiruvarur matriculates. Thus, the majority of migrants were illiterates and only a few had studied up to fifth  standard.

E. Before Income Migrant of the Respondents

 It is the low income in the native place which low level income In the present study, the monthly income of 14.7 per cent in Mayiladuthurai long-term migrants was in the range Below-5000 and short term migrant in 15.7 percent in Tiruchirapplli of equal  number was in the range  Below-5000.  5001-10000 while 5.8 percent in Mayiladuthurai of  respondents’  long-term  migrants  and  were  earning  5001  to  `  10000.  Among  short-term migrants also,5.9 per cent in Nagapattinam were earning income. In the range of Above-10001 and 0.8 per cent in Thiruvarur had income in the range.  So, nearly 75 per cent respondents had monthly income of ` 3000 to `10000.

F. After Income Migrant of the Respondents

It is the low income in the native place which induces migration to the areas of better livelihood opportunities. In the present study, the monthly income of 13.7 per cent in Mayiladuthurai& Thiruvarur long-term migrants was in  the  range  15001-20000  and  of  short-term  migrants  were  in  the  range  15001-20000  while  14.6 per  cent in Tiruchirapplli of  respondents.  The  second  income  range  was  earning  below  -  15000  long-term migrants  were  in  the 6..7  percent in Nagapattinam.  Among  short-term  migrants  also,  6.5  per  cent in  were  earning income in the range of below - 15000 and 1.3 per cent had income long term migrant and short term  migrant  2.7  percent  in  Thiruvarur the  range  above  -  20001.  On  overall  basis,  maximum  income  of  `15001-20000 was being earned by 13.7 per cent in Tiruchirapplli respondents, followed by Below – 15000 by 6 per  cent in five district,  and  Above  –  20001  by  1  per  cent in Thiruvarur &Nagapattinam .  So,  nearly  14  per  cent  respondents  had  monthly income of 15001-20000.

Conclusion

The study cavery delta region of five district has witnessed mass seasonal migration to both rural and urban areas mainly for survival, settling their debts and to earn money to get their daughters married off. Migration is many things. It can be an individual decision to change the country of residence. It can be the social impact of a mass movement of people to other countries for economic pur-poses. A complex process, migration speaks to the regional and global changes impacting the lives of individuals and wider society. Such pull and push factors encourage emigration to high-income countries experiencing labour shortages. Emigration has different impacts on sending country and destination country. The study has revealed that most of the migrants were in the age of thirties and forties, belonged to general castes with faith in Hindu religion, were mostly illiterates and migrated in the first decade of 21st century. Nearly 75 per cent of the migrants were earning a monthly income of 3000-5000. Low wages and rain-fed agriculture in the native place have been found the economic factors leading to migration, while poverty, poor civic amenities, leading a poor life, high aspirations and demonstration effect were social and psychological factors resulting to migration. As far as income is concerned, before migration 69 per cent migrants were earning less than ` 15001-20000 per month. , 70 per cent of respondents their income as remittances back home. The study reveals the migrant agriculture laborers in Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ). Majority are international migrant and interstate migrants, majority (75%) of the respondents in the age groups (21 to 40) migrated to different places like Thiruppur, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kerala and Saudi, Arabia, Dubai, Mascot, Malaysia, and Singapore. Main reasons for migration are low wages, unemployment debt due to failure in agriculture due to lack of rains, more employment opportunities in the destination place and more jobs and a handsome salary which leads to improvement of the living conditions.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2022 Dr. G. Mahendran. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.