Kerala is one of the states in India which has experienced very high rates of international migration. This has attracted much attention by researchers and policy makers alike. A number of analytical issues have come up for in-depth examination. The main topics are: (i) a systematic enumeration of the number of people who have migrated from Kerala to the Middle East; (ii) the characteristics of these migrants; (iii) the quantum of remittances and its impact on Kerala’s economy, iv) government policy, invisibility and the distinctive nature of women’s migration. Currently the issue of return migration is also analysed.
For more than two decades now, Kerala has also been experiencing growing in-migration of unskilled and intermediary skill category workers from across India. An enumeration and in depth study of child migrants accompanying families or otherwise is underway.