Parental Perspectives on Youth Emigration from Amritsar, Punjab

Abstract

Youth emigration has become a defining feature of Punjab’s socio-economic landscape, with Amritsar emerging as a key hub.  While many studies have focused on emigrant youth, little attention has been paid to parental perspectives, despite their central role in financing and supporting migration. This study, based on a cross-sectional survey of left behind parents in Amritsar, examines their motivations, knowledge and vulnerability during their children’s migration. Findings reveal a paradox of youth agency and vulnerability. While migration is largely youth-initiated, it represents a high-cost, high risk family investment. Parents identified both economic hardship and unstable employment, alongside peer pressure and social prestige, as key drivers of migration. The process is privatized, dominated by agents and coaching centers, while many parents remain uncertain about their children’s long-term plans and struggles abroad. A marked rural–urban divide was evident in access to information, credit, and support networks, exposing rural families to greater risks. These findings underscore the need for state-led counseling services, streamlined visa support, and affordable credit mechanisms. Strengthening official information channels, accredited migration centres and digital literacy programmes could empower families to make informed decisions.