Significant drain of wealth, talent, and youth from Punjab; 66% of migrant households still grappling with debt-Dr Gian Singh
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ September 3,2024
At the book release event for “Demographic and Socio-Economic Analysis of International Migration from Rural Punjab,” Prof. Gurmukh Singh, Head of the Punjabi Department, Punjabi university congratulated the authors and highlighted the relevance of the book for the academicians, researchers and policy makers.
Dr. Gian Singh, a key contributor, revealed that the study surveyed about 2,600 rural households across 12 districts in Majha, Malwa, and Doaba. The research underscores a significant drain of wealth, talent, and youth from Punjab, with 66% of migrant households still grappling with debt. Dr. Singh advocated for increased employment opportunities to stem the outflow of young people.
Prof.Rajinder Pal Singh Brar congratulated the authors and commended Prof.Gian Singh for his dedication to addressing the issues of marginalized groups and farmers. He noted that migration predominantly occurs mainly from land-owning households and that remittances are largely used for debt repayment and consumption rather than investment.
Amarjeet Singh Waraich emphasized the need for policymakers to engage with the book’s insights, criticizing the administrative system for its failures and highlighting how systemic corruption has evolved. He pointed out that rural people’s reluctance to seek justice due to systemic biases.
Prof. R.K. Mahajan discussed the scope for further research, noting the shift in remittance usage from productive to unproductive purposes since 2015, and the predominance of backwash effects over spread effects. He stressed the importance of further study in this area.
Prof. Harjinder Walia praised the research team, underscoring the need for historical context in migration studies.He also discussed forced migration and the push-pull factors involved. He also highlighted the emotional toll on parents of migrant children and the need to understand the experiences of those living abroad.
Dr. Man Singh Dhindsa addressed the environmental concerns of Punjab and called for a reevaluation of strategies to mitigate migration and preserve the region.
Prof.Baldev Singh Dhaliwal proposed a balanced view of migration, acknowledging the challenges faced by youth both domestically and abroad. Prof.Mangat called for an analysis of migration’s impact on Punjab’s religious composition, while Dr.Harwinder Kaur pointed out the multi-generational effects of migration.
A young scholar discussed the Centre-State dynamics affecting Punjab, while Prof. Balwinder Tiwana explored historical migration patterns and the influence of capitalist development. He highlighted the challenges faced by unskilled migrants in the developed countries and praised Dr. Singh’s efforts to make the research accessible through Punjabi-language publications.
In closing, Chief Guest Justice Dhaliwal highlighted five key aspects of migration: colonial influences, social networks, identity issues, generational challenges, and migrant rights. Dr. Jasdeep Singh Toor, Head of the Economics Department, concluded the event with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the valuable contributions of the authors.
