Emerging Trends of Emigration and the Impacts of Remittances Utilization: A case study of Khuiratta, District Kotli AJK

Abstract

Migration is a form of social change and can also be examined as a process of social transformations. In general it can be said that every transition from one social situation to another requires a degree of adjustment on the part of individuals, groups, communities and even nations. Overall, migration entails fundamental socio-cultural, economic and psychological changes. The social and cultural impacts of emigration on a Kashmiri migrant-sending community are assessed through a review of empirical work and intensive in- depth field study by applying Anthropological tools and techniques. Six decades of massive migration have fundamentally altered the socio-cultural and economic patterns of the village, as well as Kashmiri society in general. Exposure to migrants’ relative success, status and wealth has also inspired and increased the aspirations of other villagers to seek emigration. Migration and remittances has enabled the emancipation of formerly subaltern socio- ethnic groups and professional castes of the village, which have subsequently been able to escape from the constraints of traditional peasant society. Remittance-induced construction of palatial houses to establish a status symbol as well as destined for nuclear families. Purchases of household utilities generally improve the living conditions of migrants’ families in the village. Remittances enabled the migrants’ children and particularly daughters to go to school. The socio-cultural (religious, social, political) and economic impacts of migration clearly demonstrates the villager’s reliance on remittance; which has promoted a culture of remittances in the village. The availability of fast mode of communication has enabled the previously encapsulate villagers to have an access around the globe and get aware of the wider trends. Being forced by a number of factors and inspired by the social remittance, cash and kind remittances; the villagers found their relative success in emigration. Gone through various phases, the earlier labour migration, family reunion and marriage migration has lead the village towards chain migration. In fact, the village presents a culture of emigration; the villager’s everyday’s gossip constitutes the discussion about new emigration policies, emigration strategies, available emigration opportunities and expenses. The villager’s desires, wishes and craze for emigration as well as their future aspirations are reflected in their social commentary and folk gatherings. The villagers have perceived the emigration as an ointment for all the deprivation and relatively secure way towards more social and economic uplift. Any household lacking the economic resources and possess low level of living standard is not considered as poor rather a poor family is considered to be the one that does not have a family member who can emigrate abroad. The migrants has introduces new trends, ideas and patterns of living. The mass migration and frequent flow of cash, kind and social remittances has directed the otherwise deprived villagers to seek emigration with the hope of improvement in living conditions of their families left behind. The new trends, aspirations and opportunities have altered every sphere of the life of the villagers and the otherwise old, isolated and primeval village presents a very diverse, modern, stylish and sophisticated outlook. Obviously, the credit goes to the emigration and frequent flow of remittances to the village.