Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

who are more educated, as the passport regulations now stipulate that all those who apply
will have to have the school certificate. Some of them have technical diplomas also.
There are agencies recruiting people to the Gulf, giving them the necessary short-term
training in the required skills, and Arabic education is being defended as a means of
getting employment in the Gulf. There has also been a substantial increase in the number
of middle class gulf migrants, particularly those going for short or long-term stints in
schools, colleges, Universities, and as Doctors and Engineers.
All this is, of course, well known. The impact of the migration on the society will have to
be worked out. It has been argued that gulf remittances to Kerala come to about 13,000
cores a year. Substantial number of the families in Tirurangadi has their family members
in the gulf, which means that the region receives in various ways a large share of the
remittances, although the exact amount would definitely be difficult to calculate. Gulf
remittances have been put into the following demonstrable uses within the region; first is
in the construction of houses and other buildings, including shopping complexes and
housing quarters. The ostentatious construction seen in several parts of the region is the
result of gulf money. Several informants also testified that the first priority of all the
migrants is repayment of the debts and constructing a house, the second is conducting the
marriage of their sisters or daughters, which involves payment of dowry, mainly in gold.
The gold payments which are about 15 sovereigns even for the poorest, and the dowry in
money, which comes to about a lakh at the minimum, are provided from the reserves of
the migrant. Dowry also takes the form of constructing a house for the groom, and
providing for or arranging his employment. Naturally, in gulf houses the demand will be
much more, both as dowry to the groom or as money from the bride. Another major form
of expense is for the purchase of household appliances, and only those who have still
further savings will think of starting a business at home. Those migrants whose savings