Why is it in the news?

• Recently presented at the Lok Kerala Sabha, the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2023 report, a biennial effort by the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMD) and Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, highlighted key findings from the ongoing emigration trends.
• The survey covered a sample of 20,000 households across all 14 districts of Kerala using a stratified multi-stage random sampling method. This immense sample size makes it one of Kerala’s most comprehensive socio-economic surveys to date, surpassing the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).

More about the news

• The KMS 2023 estimated a total of 2.2 million emigrants from Kerala, marking a slight increase from the 2018 figures. Notably, the number of emigrants returning home has risen substantially, reaching 1.8 million in 2023 from 1.2 million in 2018.

Some of the noteworthy trends:

• Decrease in Gulf Emigration: The preference for destinations outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has surged, rising from 10.8% in 2018 to 19.5% in 2023. This shift aligns with a long-standing trend observed since 1998, where GCC destinations dominated Kerala’s emigrant landscape.
• Surge in Student Emigration: The study unveiled a notable increase in student emigrants who opt for destinations beyond the GCC nations for their higher education, possibly steering the directional change in emigration patterns. Student emigrants now constitute 11.3% of Kerala’s overall emigrant population, with numbers nearly doubling since 2018, from 129,763 to 250,000.
• Growing Female Emigration: A rise in female emigrants, from 15.8% in 2018 to 19.1% in 2023, was observed. Noteworthy is that women emigrants exhibit higher educational qualifications compared to men, with a significant proportion engaged in the nursing sector.
• Regional Emigration Patterns: North Kerala continues to be a significant source of emigrants, contributing 41.8% to Kerala’s emigrant population. Central and South Kerala also play substantial roles, with variations in migration destinations and demographic profiles.
• Religious Demographics: Muslims account for 41.9% of Kerala’s emigrant population, exceeding their population share in the state. Hindus and Christians also form significant portions of the emigrant community.
• Remittance Trends: Kerala saw a substantial increase in remittances, totalling Rs 216,893 crores in 2023, marking a noteworthy surge post-pandemic. The data indicates diversified expenditure patterns for remittances among migrant households.
• Returnee Dynamics: The survey noted a growing trend of emigrants returning to Kerala, reaching 495,962 individuals in the past five years, largely influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic-induced job losses.
• Long-Term Trends: Over the past three decades, Kerala’s emigrant population has witnessed fluctuations, culminating in the current figures of 2.2 million. The global Malayali diaspora is estimated at 5 million, with 3 million residing outside Kerala within India.

Way Forward

• The rising trend of Indian students pursuing education abroad underscores the need for strategic policy interventions, emphasizing the enhancement of educational infrastructure and the facilitation of secure migration pathways for student emigrants.
• Efforts in skill development for labour emigrants can lead to better employment opportunities and potentially diversify emigrant destinations beyond the GCC nations.
• Addressing the rehabilitative and reintegration needs of returning migrants is crucial in navigating the evolving emigration landscape efficiently.