Exodus from the Gulf increasing: study

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 16. Even as there is a slump in NRI remittances to the State from the Gulf countries, the exodus of Gulf emigrants is increasing with every passing year.

According to a study on the `Returnee emigrants of Varkala' conducted by Dr. B.A. Prakash, Department of Economics, Kerala University, in 1997 the Gulf NRIs have remitted Rs. 12,411 crores to Kerala.

The study on the returnee emigrants was prepared on the basis of a survey conducted among 80 families in Varkala town. It focuses on the reasons for the exodus, the future employment prospects in the Gulf countries, the financial position of the returnees and the local problems thrown up by the exodus.

When 30 persons out of the 100 families in Chirayinkeezhu taluk which includes Varkala, migrated to the Gulf countries, 28 persons have returned in due course. Majority of them have migrated to the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Some of them migrated to Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait too.

Most of the people who have left for the Gulf countries in the early '90s have spent Rs. 40,000 for obtaining Visa and other travel documents. This was in addition to the airfare, the study says.

Those subjected for the study were construction labour, drivers, mechanics, salesmen. About 91 per cent of them had to meet the traveling expenses, food and medical expenses from the salary and hence had only meagre savings. About 29 per cent of the emigrants who returned in the late '90s could send home only less than Rs.1,000 every month and 34 per cent between Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,000, the study says.

Lack of employment opportunities had prompted 42 per cent of the emigrants to return to the State. Cut in salaries, change in migration rules, and health problems have also led to the exodus. If 25 per cent returned due to cut in salaries, seven per cent due to change in rules, and 14 per cent due to health problems. After 1996 47 per cent NRIs had returned when the Gulf countries imposed stringent migration rules. The exodus, mainly due to the above mentioned reasons, reached 83 per cent in 1997, 71 per cent in 1998 and 92 per cent in 1999, the study says.

The Gulf returnees subjected for the study say migration possibilities are very bleak in the future. The curbs imposed by Saudi Arabia and UAE on issuing Visa have made migration impossible, the study says.

About 51 per cent of the returnees in Varkala are unemployed. The rate of unemployment in NRI families is 55 per cent. As they were depending on the income from the NRIs now they are in deep financial crisis. The condition of those who have returned in the late '90s is the worst than those who returned earlier. As much as 36 per cent of the returnees earn a living doing unskilled jobs and 13 per cent are self-employed, according to the study.

About 34 per cent of the NRIs were forced to sell their land and another nine per cent even their houses. There was 30 to 40 per cent dip in the sale of building materials, textile goods and other consumer items since 1996, the study says.

According to some of the suggestions made by Dr.Prakash, the Central Government to hold a study on the whole gamut of issues in the Gulf countries and formulate polices to contain them. The Centre, through the Indian Ambassadors, should mount pressure on the Gulf nations to permit Indians to work there for a longer duration. Amend the Reserve Bank of India rules to provide easy self-employment loans to the returnees and sanction pension to the kin of those killed in accidents and the handicapped accident victims.

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