An Economic Analysis of Influence of Out-migration on Income, Food Consumption and Inequity in Hills

Due to the subsistence nature of agriculture and absence of suitable alternatives for livelihood, migration from the hills of Uttarakhand is continuously increasing. The present study assessed the impact of out-migration on household food expenditure and equity in household income and consumption. Primary data were collected from 90 migrant and 60 non-migrant member households in Pithoragarh district. Data were analyzed using conventional economic measures, measures of central tendency, regression analysis and Gini ratios. Around 84 per cent migrant member households belonged to Above Poverty Line category whereas the majority of the non-migrant member households (62 per cent) were Below Poverty Line. Value of Gini coefficient for income was 0.64 and 0.71 for migrant member and non-migrant member households, respectively revealing the relatively equitable distribution of income in migrant member households. Above Poverty Line status, presence of the migrant member, larger family size, higher income and proximity of households to district headquarter had a significant positive influence on the household monthly food expenditure.