Rural Labour Mobility in Times of Reform: Dynamics and Perspectives from Asian Economies

This book examines essential issues and perspectives on rural labour, helping readers understand the changes that are currently taking place in the labour markets, especially with regard to migrants from rural to urban areas, their socio-economic conditions, factors contributing to such mobility and associated problems.  Further, it addresses the question of why the socio-economic conditions of rural labour have not experienced measurable improvements. 

Presenting a collection of painstakingly researched essays that focus on both India and China, the book addresses these challenges with an explicit focus on safeguarding the interests of rural labour under the neoliberal dispensation. The research is based on primary survey data and analytical issues from selected Asian economies, especially from India. On the basis of the findings discussed, it subsequently suggests ways forward so as to improve the wellbeing of migrant households and put an end todistress migration. Lastly, the book convincingly argues that improving labour market outcomes, and more specifically, generating employment and providing alternative livelihood avenues, represents the most pressing challenge in rural areas.

Kailash Sarap is professor of SR Sankaran Chair (Rural Labour) at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR), Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, Hyderabad, India. Earlier he was Professor, P.G. Department of Economics, Sambalpur University, India.  He has been a visiting fellow at the University of Namur, Belgium, and Commonwealth Fellow at the University of Oxford, U.K.  He has published a number of articles in leading journals, including the Journal of Peasant Studies, Cambridge Journal of Economics, Development and Change, Economic and Political Weekly, and Indian Economic Review, and authored three books including Interlinked Agrarian Markets in Rural India. He has published articles in various edited books published by Springer (2015) and Oxford University Press (2016). Sarap’s research interests include agrarian relations, land credit and labour markets and natural resources management.