THIS BOOK IS the result of a study concluded in 1995 but instigated by research undertaken in 1991 of 2,671 pavement dwellers in Dhaka. This later study centred on the expectations of migrants and suggests, through extensive primary data (205 respondents), that key hypotheses put forward to explain migration are not entirely satisfactory. Although migrants experience economic need, by no means are they all reacting solely to economic necessity. Nor are all migrants in possession of transferable skills or entrepreneurial ability. Many migrants in the study tended to be illiterate, unskilled and even old and handicapped. They were ill-equipped for city life and it is paradoxical therefore that they should migrate. Yet, they migrate with expectations of a better life.

An analysis of the expectations of the migrants showed that slum dwellers had higher expectations and were better prepared for city life than pavement dwellers, and that two-thirds had over-estimated the benefits of city life. An overwhelming majority, nearly 100 per cent, had taken individual decisions to migrate but an underlying motive was support for their extended families in the rural areas. More than 90 per cent of the respondents admitted to being influenced by the capital city status of Dhaka. However, nearly two-thirds had over-estimated the facilities available from city life, citing disappointments with job prospects, lack of medical facilities and housing problems. Many of the respondents were nevertheless responding to migration as a survival strategy, at least one-third having lost agricultural land within a very short period prior to migrating to the city. However, lack of information about the city is a problem for all migrants and many will go without
any prior information because the city still represents an opportunity and a possibility for a better existence, particularly because conditions in the rural areas are extremely severe. There are those groups, such as the illiterate, distress migrants and women, who require assistance; there are also those who migrate in a quest for avenues to help old, sick parents. These groups do not harbour very high expectations and there is a case here for intervention in both origin and destination areas. The book suggests that it is possible to identify potential migrants in the rural
areas who could be swayed in favour of staying, given aid and assistance. Targeted programmes of rural aid would be the best solution, especially for the poorest potential migrants.

Large parts of this book consist of empirical data presented in tables and other easy-to-read forms, as well as analysis. The book concludes with a discussion of the theoretical issues involved in the study of migration and of issues arising from this particular research.