THE HEALTH ISSUES AND PROBLEMS FACED BY RETURNEES FROM GULF COUNTRIES IN KERALA

While considering employment migration around the world, the role of India cannot be unforgettable. Among the states in India, Kerala stands first in employment migration. Owing to the high literacy rate, migration from Kerala has become a natural phenomenon. Among those migrating to foreign countries in search of better employment and income, migration to the Gulf countries is more convenient and accessible to the general public. The migration does not necessarily have to be in favor of the immigrants at all times. They have to often work in adverse conditions and survive in crisis situations. Such adverse situations and crises lead the expatriates to ill health. This study seeks to analyse the health of expatriates who have returned to Kerala after a long stay in the Gulf. Using the multi-stage sampling technique, a comparative study was done to find the health condition between the return migrants and non-migrants in the homeland. The study found that expatriates, who had spent more years in exile, were more likely to have health problems when compared to non-migrants.