Internal Migration, Remittances, and Socioeconomic Development in India: Evidence from a National Sample Survey

Remittances have a significant impact on development as a result of migration. Despite the fact that remittances play an important role in rural households, no such assessment has been made in previous studies. The study will primarily focus on how rural households receive remittances and how their utilization differs across socioeconomic groups in India. In this context, the study will first examine the internal migration of rural laborers and its linkages with socioeconomic development at source. Secondly, it will analyze the impact of internal migration on rural households and their livelihoods. For this analysis, data from the 64th round of the NSS (2007–2008) has been used. By comparing the 61st and 68th rounds of the 5-yearly surveys, the study attempted to calculate estimates of household poverty in different states and social groups. The secondary data was analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate approaches. The results of the study show that remittances from migrant workers contribute to the growth of their home country in a variety of ways, varying by region, state, and household. The study also found that the massive inflow of remittances has supported rural development by reducing urban-rural income disparities and regional inequalities, reducing rural poverty, and boosting consumption and investment. The volume of remittances, on the other hand, reflects the huge inequalities in rural India.