Objectives: The present study seeks to analyze and explain the urban-rural socio-economic linkage on the basis of a sample survey of 200 rural households in a coastal district in Odisha, India.
Methods/Statistical Analysis: Data for this study were collected by the authors by canvassing a structured questionnaire in person among the migrant workers at their worksites and place of living at the destination and other respondents at their native village during June-October, 2017. A five stage simple random sampling procedure was adopted for the purpose. Simple statistical tools were used to summarize the information in quantitative forms and discuss the findings of the survey.
Findings: The finding of our study concerning this dimension is quite interesting. Migration creates strong urban-rural linkages which influence the economy of the source households and the areas at the origin. Visits and communications facilitate the linkages while remittances strengthen them. The linkage is somewhat weaker in the case of the family migrants. The fact is that the strong urban-rural linkages are remittances are enough proof of the bond between the migrants and their households of origin. Contacts with urban based migrants lower the psychic costs of relocating, diminish the financial costs of resettling, accelerate the job search process and enhance the ease of obtaining a job. Strong social networks, by acting as information channels and links between villages and cities, help in migration. Migration also creates strong urban-rural linkages which influence the economy of the source households and the areas at the origin.
Application/Improvements: Rural-uban linkages play very crucial role in improving the livilehoods in rural areas.Urban areas also get the benefit from the linakges. The rural-urban linkages bring in skills and resources that help the development of rural areas.