PUSH-PULL FACTORS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF REVERSE MIGRANTS DURING 1ST WAVE OF COVID-19: A GRASS ROOT SURVEY IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA

Reverse migration of people across the country through all means of transport became a glaring event during the first wave of Covid-19 as soon as the central government announced the national lockdown. This research paper explores the impact of “push” and “pull” factors of reverse migration in Jaiharikhal block of Pauri district and its correlation with the socio-economic status of the reverse migrants during the first wave of Covid-19. It also examines the relationship between inter and intraclass income of reverse migrants in pre and during Covid-19 pandemic at the micro-regions of the study area. There are a total four sample sites being among which a total of 112 samples of reverse migrants were taken for study. Both primary and secondary data are being used in the study. Descriptive statistics, as well as Pearson correlation methods, are also used to examine the drivers of push and pull factors of reverse migration before and during the 1st wave of Covid-19. The study found that the income category 10,000-15,000 before Covid-19 has moved to below 10,000 and no income category with a Pearson's r-value 0.914 and 0.901 respectively, showing a very high positive correlation.