A Girl in the City: Higher Education Related in‐Migration of Young Women in Ranchi city

Aims & Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to undertake a systematic analysis of the causality and ramifications of city‐ward migration of young women mainly for the purpose of attaining higher education. The study captured motivating factors for city‐ward migration of young women along with the challenges faced by them being a migrant girl in the city and the vulnerabilities conferred upon them by the new life. The study also highlighted various coping mechanisms that the young migrant women employ to adjust to the city life and the extent to which they are able to overcome such vulnerabilities and the existing institutional provisions, both government as well as nongovernment, formulated for aiding the young migrant women in the city.

Methodology: For the purpose of this study, information was collected from both secondary as well as primary sources. The approach and methodology adopted for the collection of data was essentially qualitative. For qualitative data, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews/case studies were conducted.

Findings:

• Primary cause for city‐ward migration for attaining higher education was the availability of better institutions of higher and technical education as well as coaching centres for competitive examinations and availability of library facilities in the city as compared to the native villages and small towns of Jharkhand from where these girls out‐migrated.
• More than the pull factors of the city life, it was the push factor in their native places, i.e., lack of good educational institutions, which remained the prime factor for migration.
• The gender‐selective restrictions imposed upon these girls at their homes and native places such as restriction on their movement, going out alone etc. were root of their motivation to break away from these barriers and lead an independent life in the city.
• Most of the girls noted that it was their own decision to migrate to the city for attaining higher education.