Out-Migration and Social Capital Depletion in the Himalayan Borderlands of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

Abstract

Persistent out-migration is changing the social structure of Himalayan border villages, but not much is said about its impact on rural resilience with regard to social capital or institutional settings. This paper aims to understand the relationship between migration intensity, social capital depletion and rural transformation in Pithoragarh District, located in Uttarakhand, India. The study is based on a mixed-methods approach relying on Putnam’s theory of social capital. For fieldwork, a survey of 150 households was conducted, as well as 20 interviews and three focus group discussions. Quantitative data were processed with the help of descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and simple linear regression analysis, while qualitative materials were subject to thematic analysis. Migration intensity was significantly associated with community participation (χ² = 12.84, p < .05), social trust (χ² = 10.67, p < .05), and labour sharing (χ² = 14.21, p < .01). Migration intensity also positively predicted agricultural land abandonment (β = .57, SE = .13, t = 4.30, p < .001; R² = .32). Interviews indicated declining labour reciprocity, weaker village participation, greater burdens on women and older residents, and growing social isolation. The findings show that migration-led rural transformation involves not only demographic and economic change but also erosion of the networks and institutions that sustain collective resilience in strategically important mountain borderlands.