Migration and depopulation: A geographical analysis - a case study of Karga village in West Siang dist of Arunachal Pradesh in West Siang

Abstract

Migration is ordinarily defined as permanent or semi permanent change of residence of individual or a group of people over a significant distance. Migration is recognized as one of the most important areas of contemporary research on Population. It is a paradox that migration remains the most neglected component of population change compared with fertility and mortality, the other variable in population change, migration is much more elusive to define, measure and understand. The event of birth and death are absolute and specific and there are no problems in defining their occurrence, but in case of migration, many movement of population are difficult to record to measure. The causes of migration are numerous ranging from natural calamities, climate change, epidemics socio economic and political factors. Many a times the difference between level of technology and economic opportunities also cause large scale migration. Economic motive constitute the most vital determinants which governed the magnitude and availability of good agricultural land, size of holdings, good employment opportunities etc. This quest for better life results in the decline of the rural population leading to rural depopulation. As such this paper deals with the phenomena of migration and depopulation as witness in the village of Karga in Arunachal Pradesh. In this paper an attempt shall be made to analyse the cause, and its effect.