Emigration from Punjab is on a rise, know impact on India’s farming hub?

More and more people from Punjab, a farming hub in India, are moving to other countries. In Punjab, about 13.34% of families in rural areas have at least one member who has moved away. Many workers are selling their homes, belongings, gold, and even tractors to make this move.

A study by economists at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) shows that emigration from Punjab is on the rise. Canada is the top choice for Punjabi emigrants, with 42% choosing to move there. This is followed by Dubai (16%), Australia (10%), Italy (6%), and the UK and USA (more than 3% each).

Punjabi emigration rising, Canada preferred

Professor Shalini Sharma, Professor Manjeet Kaur, and Assistant Professor Amit Guleria from the Department of Economics and Sociology at PAU conducted the study. They interviewed a total of 640 migrants and 660 non-migrant households from 44 villages across 22 districts, covering 9,492 households.

The study looked at migration from 1990 to September 2022 and found that there was a big increase in migration since 2016, with 74% of all emigration happening during this period.

The study shows that Punjab, a major farming area in India and home to many people who live abroad, has seen more people moving to other countries. About 13.34% of families in rural areas have at least one member who has moved away.

The districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, and Ferozepur have seen more than 30% of people move away, according to a detailed study by PAU. These changes could have a big impact on the social and economic situation in the state.

People are leaving Punjab because there aren’t enough jobs, the system is corrupt, and they don’t earn enough money. About three out of four migrant families said this. Other reasons include social problems (62%) and drug use (53%).

The study found that men without land or much education, and people from the lower castes in Doaba, went to the UAE for work. Young people and Jat/Sikhs from all farm sizes in Majha and Malwa went to Canada and Australia on study visas. More women (65%) than men (35%) got the IELTS scores they needed for study visas.

Migrants sell assets for migration

The study also looked at the financial side of things. About 19.38% of migrants sold things like land, houses, gold, cars, and tractors. On average, each migrant family sold about Rs 1.23 lakh worth of stuff. This added up to about Rs 5,639 crores for the whole state.

Most of the families who sold things were from lower castes, didn’t earn much, didn’t own land, and worked as laborers. They sold houses and gold jewelry to pay for the move. About 56% of families borrowed money to send their children abroad. Each family borrowed about Rs 3.13 lakh on average.

Non-institutional sources lent about 38.8% of the money, and institutional sources lent 61.2%. In total, they borrowed about Rs 14,342 crores for migration.

To put it simply, out of 100 Punjabis who moved abroad from Punjab’s villages between 1990 and 2022, about 74 did so after 2016. This means there was a big increase in people leaving Punjab in the last 6-7 years.

Most importantly, this new wave of migrants is made up of people who are leaving the country on student visas. This is according to Prof Shalini Sharma, Prof Manjeet Kaur, and Assistant Professor Amit Guleria from the Department of Economics and Sociology at PAU, who carried out the study.

Study interviews households in Punjab

The study is based on data from 44 villages in 22 districts. The researchers interviewed 9,492 households, including 640 migrant and 660 non-migrant households.

The study found that about 13.34% of rural households in Punjab have at least one member who has moved away. It also found that about 19.38% of migrants sold assets like land, houses, gold, cars, and tractors. Each migrant sold assets worth about Rs 1.23 lakh on average, which added up to about Rs 5,639 crore for the state.

The study suggested that we immediately need employment generation and investment in human capital through skill development, entrepreneurship, and vocational training. This will allow young people who wish to emigrate to find occupational placement in their homeland.

Only strong state intervention can make this possible. We also need to revamp the unviable and economically sluggish agricultural sector, which isn't achievable without government intervention and support. The study noted that it is crucial to address socio-economic and systemic issues related to migration to ensure Punjab's long-term prosperity.

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