Child Migration to Kathmandu Valley City. Family and Other Factors in Context and Process
Author(s): Y.B.Gurung
This report establishes that there are about 500,000 children in Nepal who migrate from rural areas to urban centers. This study seeks to explore reasons for child migration in relation to socio-economic factors and family structure in Nepal by raising three questions: what is the extent and pattern of child migration to urban Nepal? What is the role of family structure in child migration? What other factors influence child migration? The study is based on secondary literature and data sets taken from various reports. The research demonstrates that the rate of child migration to urban areas is about 1.7 percent. It also shows that migration of children in Nepal has been predominantly a male phenomenon. Secondly, migration of children is found to be positively associated with the family size. Larger family size increases probability for children to migrate and vice-versa. A negative correlation is found between the migration of children and the size of landholdings. For example, 12 percent of child migrants come from landless families. Finally, the decision-making process to migrate is closely related to the attitude of parents towards migration. Despite poverty being seen as the initial reason to migrate, the parents' suggestion to leave home is also an important factor as one of the main encouragements to child migration.