Each winter season in the state of Odisha, starts a process of migration. The populace of the western districts of the state of Odisha is the ones who migrate particularly of undivided Bolangir, Koraput, Kalahandi districts (now known as the KBK districts). The phenomenon of migration is believed to have taken roots in the aftermath of severe drought of the 1960s. Today every year thousands of people across the length and breadth of the region leave their native village in search of food and employment and flock the brick kilns in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, the construction sites of the cities and also to the towns of the state. Looking at migration through the lens of gender can show how futile it is to try to divide up experiences of migration as forced or voluntary, positive or negative. Migration entrenches restrictive gender stereotypes of women’s dependency and lack of decision making powers. The gendered division of labour in destination results in women’s skills being under utilized or lead women into sex work. Health, education and employment protection services are hard to obtain in the destination areas particularly if the migration is illegal and informal.
URL : 20131223011933.pdf