The impact of rural urban migration on traditional rural societies

Abstract

This paper focuses on the factors influencing the rural urban migration and discusses their impact on rural societies. The rural urban migration impacts rural societies through demographic shifts. Increasing rural urban migration is leading to increase in aging population and labour shortages in rural areas. Even though several other countries have witnessed reduction in poverty through urban migration but in India the migration has resulted in creating rural disparities, economic, challenges and social issues. This also leads to a decline in traditional occupations and livelihoods. Another big impact from migration is the fear of losing traditional customs, cultural practices, local dialects and region specific folk arts. Further, the migration is leading to strain on urban infrastructure and urban way of life. Besides, urban unemployment and rise of urban slums is an added impact. Socially this migration is impacting the society negatively as there is a high rise in societal inequality and cultural erosion. Policies addressing the retention of rural youth have failed and governments are considering new schemes for rural youth. But, there is a necessity to readdress the issue with a broader perspective which could offer long term solution to the issue. Community stakeholdership and corporate social responsibility collaboration will assist in making farm sector more supportive to Indian rural economy.