CUET Preparation Today
Which statement best describes the nature of contemporary rural-to-urban migration? |
It is a one-way flow driven primarily by the search for higher wages in the industrial sectors of the metropolis. It is a complex process accelerated by both the loss of traditional survival safety nets and the pursuit of social anonymity. It is an optional lifestyle choice for the rural population, facilitated by the bridging of the rural-urban gap through mass media. It is a process that predominantly benefits the socially dominant rural groups who seek to escape village-based social stigma. |
It is a complex process accelerated by both the loss of traditional survival safety nets and the pursuit of social anonymity. |
The correct answer is Option 2: It is a complex process accelerated by both the loss of traditional survival safety nets and the pursuit of social anonymity. Contemporary rural-to-urban migration cannot be explained by a single factor. Economic pressures created by the decline of common property resources such as forests, ponds, and grazing lands have reduced traditional means of survival for many rural households. At the same time, cities offer social advantages, including greater anonymity, which may reduce social monitoring and discrimination. Together, these economic and social factors make migration an attractive option for many villagers. Option 1: It is a one-way flow driven primarily by the search for higher wages in the industrial sectors of the metropolis. — Incorrect. Migration is influenced by multiple economic and social factors, and migrants are not necessarily moving only to industrial jobs in metropolitan cities. Option 2: It is a complex process accelerated by both the loss of traditional survival safety nets and the pursuit of social anonymity. — Correct. This option combines the two important dimensions of migration discussed in the topic—economic hardship and social considerations. Option 3: It is an optional lifestyle choice for the rural population, facilitated by the bridging of the rural-urban gap through mass media. — Incorrect. Mass media may shape aspirations, but migration is often linked to livelihood pressures and social circumstances rather than being merely a lifestyle choice. Option 4: It is a process that predominantly benefits the socially dominant rural groups who seek to escape village-based social stigma. — Incorrect. The advantages of anonymity are discussed for both socially oppressed groups and poorer members of socially dominant groups, not predominantly for the latter alone. |
