Social Impact of Migration, Negative and Positive Effects

Migration, directly and indirectly, has a social impact on the family whether migration is by rural or urban class, or from long distance or short distance. The migrants make efforts to keep in touch with their families by either visiting once in a while or moving back to the rural place for some time after one has earned enough money. This shows how Indian families exhibit strong values and adheres to them. Each member becomes responsible for his family. Especially if he’s the male. It does not matter if the person moves to a modernized place because the society’s cultural norms and practices on the individual make it difficult for them to completely escape from it.

Once the migrants reach their destination they become exposed to new traditional and cultural practices. They then start imbibing their lifestyle, dressing patterns, experience, honed skills, and language also get influenced. These internalized set of beliefs and values that they learn from urban life get transmitted to their families through them. It starts a revolution in their thinking and there are chances that they may come out of their shell leaving their superstitions and stereotypes and adapt to the openness of urban people. This also would help to establish contacts in urban areas and increase their possibility of recommendation in job sectors or at least become the lifesaver for the migrants.

The social and material gains are beneficial for the progress of the village. But it also decreases the productive labor in the villages which is required to sustain agriculture. Then women have to work on the fields which increases the workload on them because they also have to look after their families and children. Also, they cannot manage to do so much the physical work that agriculture practice requires. Thus agriculture gets highly affected and the problems of food arise within the family and the village in general which in turn affects the migrated member. This cycle affects each person some of the other way.

Migration has also reduced the size of the family as compared to those who do not migrate. However this is an advantage because then members learn to function independently, and they take up their own responsibility and also fewer conflicts take place within the family. But the change in this mindset of living an independent life is not supported by the older generation and this creates a rift between the younger and elder. The elders are of the opinion that the heritage and institution of a family should be preserved and passed on the next generation in its complete form without any dynamicity.

What us there should continue to be there because of that us the essence of a family. The strength lies in unity and integrity. Migration should not be a result of the inadequacy of peace and harmonious life in the society rather be a choice independent of these inadequacies and that can be done only when we start at the root level by tackling minor problems.

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Literature Student at Delhi University!