A Geographical Analysis of Rural Out-Migration And Its Impact on The Rural Landscape of Selected Villages in Garhwal District (Uttarakhand)

Abstract

Rural out-migration is a common spectacle in hilly areasof Uttarakhand state and is directly associated with the socio-economic conditions of rural people. It plays a major role in the transformation of the rural areas into resonating environments because major populated villages show decline in population growth, agricultural activities, rural development, labour migration and rate of employment. Migration refers to the geographic movement of people from a particular area to another area for various purposes and continues to bethe main problem in the rural areas of Uttarakhand. Unemployment and Lack of basic facilities are the major reasons for out-migration in these areas. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the rural outmigration in Dang, Agrora, Kolri, and Morora villages of Garhwal District. In this study, various dimensions of rural out-migration are considered including the types ofout- migration, purpose of migration, years wise, migration in the age group, inter and intra-state migration. It also analyses the impact of out-migration on the rural landscape through principal component analysis. Results indicate that out-migration harms rural landscape because various attributes are in the declining stage with the out-migration such as agriculture, population growth, working population, and businessin study area.