ABSTRACT
This chapter examines distress-driven seasonal migration from rural Maharashtra, by covering 340 seasonal migrant households with a population of 1881 persons from 14 randomly selected villages in Beed and Solapur districts of Maharashtra state. Every year, when dry season starts, thousands of peasant families undertake migration for working in sugar factories, brick kilns, and stone quarries, etc. where they remain for varying period generally until the rain start again in their home areas. This chapter offers a glimpse into the life and work of seasonal migrant households, with a special emphasis on the life and work of the seasonal migrant women within the studied households. In short, this research looks into the characteristics, patterns, causes and consequences of seasonal migration of the rural households of Maharashtra. Why these people migrate, how much of the year they are away from home, and what types of activities they undertake at the destination, how they are paid and what they feel about their life are the major research questions addressed in this chapter.
