TEMPORARY RURAL URBAN MIGRATION AND ITS IMPACTS ON RURAL HOUSEHOLDS: A STUDY ON SELECTED RICKSHAW PULLERS IN AGARGAON AREA, DHAKA.

Abstract

Rural-Urban migration is the most crucial component of internal migration of any country. It plays an important role in poverty reduction and economic development. In Bangladesh rural-urban migration is the most important factor for rapid urbanization. In urban centers, slum is a popular destination for poor rural-urban migrants. More than 15 million people lives in the slums of six divisional cities of Bangladesh. Megacity Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, alone holds about 3.4 million people in 4966 slums. A significant number of slum dwellers are rickshaw pullers and residing temporarily and seasonally in Dhaka city. Present study was an effort to examine socio-economic condition of rickshaw pullers, to investigate their nature of rickshaw pulling, to explore their income and expenditure pattern and lastly to identify their problems and solutions altogether. Moreover, this study attempted to highlight the impacts of the earnings from city on the rural rickshaw pullers’ household level. To fulfill the objectives, Agargaon area of Dhaka was purposively selected. Simple random sampling technique were used for collecting cross sectional data from a total of 117 rickshaw pullers with the help of pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics like average, percentage, etc., were followed to analyze the data and to achieve the objectives of the study. It was found from the study that all the respondents and their family have improved their food consumption level through the income from rickshaw pulling. Not only the food consumption, but also this rickshaw pulling occupation made them capable of educated their children and improved their clothing style. This study showed that the monthly average household income distribution among rickshaw pullers were significantly better than the national average rural household income. Study found that more than half of their incomes spend for food items. This will directly enhance the family calorie intake level. Savings from rickshaw pulling has also increased the ability to spend in education for their children and also in agriculture as well as acquiring land from others.