Kerala facing reverse migration

Kerala is facing its biggest challenge with a flood of reverse migrations of thousands of professionals, technicians and workers laid off because of global recession. Yet no political party has taken up the concerns of those returning home, nor the severe impact likely on the state's NRI remittance-dependent economy.

Alex has returned home after losing his job in the Gulf as a fallout of global economic slowdown. And he says the trade union dominated state will not let him become an entrepreneur.

"After 21 years in Bahrain, I came back here and am not doing anything now because of problems here. One can't do anything in Kerala," he said.

It is a flood of reverse migrations in Kerala. An estimated 50,000 people have already come back and upto two lakh are expected in the next few months, adding to the estimated 40 lakh unemployed people in Kerala.

"Once they are back, the economy will be badly affected. Who is going to give them employment? That is going to be a big question," said Gopal K Nair, President, Middle East Indian Association.

The NRI remittances have accounted for 20 per cent of GSDP and more than 30 per cent of Kerala's annual receipts. Yet no political party has taken up the concerns of those returning home.

Tourism, rubber industry and NRI remittances are considered the three pillars of Kerala's economy. With global economic slowdown, all these three sectors have suffered a serious setback. Tourism, for example, is down by 60 per cent, but these are not election issues.