Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 18. Rural-to-urban migration in India, driven by globalisation, is reshaping traditional social values. Examine its impact on gender roles, family structures, and community ties in rural society. (250 words, 15 marks)
Introduction
Over 45 crore Indians are internal migrants (Census 2011), with over 60% migrating for work or family. The surge in rural-to-urban migration—especially post-liberalisation—has deeply influenced social institutions, norms, and values in the countryside.
Body
Changing Gender Roles
- Women as Household Heads: Male out-migration leaves women managing farms and finances, leading to greater agency.
- Feminisation of Agriculture: Women now constitute over 40% of agricultural labour (Economic Survey 2022–23), assuming roles once male-dominated.
- Increased workload enhances decision-making, but also intensifies time poverty and dual burden.
- Control on Remittance: In some areas, women handle remittances, influencing spending and child education decisions.
- Challenges: Despite increased responsibility, patriarchal norms and limited legal rights restrict full empowerment.
Transformation of Family Structures
- Shift from Joint to Nuclear: Migration often leads to fragmented families, weakening traditional joint family support systems.
- Rise in Female-headed Households: Temporary or permanent absence of men creates new social roles and responsibilities for women.
- Intergenerational Gaps: Aspirational youth in cities develop modern values, creating cultural distance with elders in villages.
- Delayed Marriages and Fertility: Urban exposure leads to lower fertility and later marriages among migrants.
- Emotional Dislocation: Long separations strain marital ties and parent-child relationships.
Impact on Community Ties
- Weakened Caste Control: Migration weakens the influence of caste panchayats and rigid social hierarchies. A 2020 IIPS study reported that 52% of migrants experienced reduced caste-based restrictions in urban areas.
- New Social Networks: Over 65% of rural migrants (NSSO 2017–18) build informal urban networks based on work or regional origin, reducing reliance on traditional village kinship systems.
- Festive Decline: Participation in local festivals declined by 40% in high-migration regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, as per a 2022 NIRDPR report—indicating erosion of communal cohesion.
- Remittance Economy: India received $111 billion in remittances in 2023 (World Bank). This has created visible class divisions within villages, reshaping traditional community balance and social roles.
- Reverse Influence: A 2021 CSDS survey in Tamil Nadu found 80% of return migrants advocating urban values like formal education, improved sanitation, and smaller families—reshaping rural mindsets.
Conclusion
To prevent unplanned urbanisation and cultural disruption, India must strengthen rural economies through initiatives like the Rurban Mission—bringing urban amenities and jobs to villages, making migration optional and preserving traditional community structures with dignity.
