Spatiotemporal Study of Inwards Migration of Low and Unskille ...
Abstract
An unanticipated scale of labour migration from other parts of India to Kerala in the recent past was considered to have a mixed outcome on the overall affairs of the state of Kerala. This migration of unskilled and semi-skilled labour, while making positive contributions to the economic condition in the state, will also pose a threat to the cohesiveness of local communities hosting larger influxes of migrants. This article explores the effects of labour migration on residents’ perceptions of social wellbeing, economic impact, and health and environment aspects. The study uses Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to understand the perception of local residents. Results suggest that inward migration weakens the perception of social wellbeing and the perception towards a healthy living society. But the prospects of economic value creation to society at large impel local residents to create their own mechanisms to cope with the changed reality.