Effects of Paternal Labour Migration on Left-Behind Children in District Bajaur: Guardian Perspectives

ABSTRACT
This study examines the effects of father labor migration on the children who are left behind. Migration can lead to economic prosperity, but it also causes the departure of cultural and traditional family members, ultimately impacting the lives of those who remain, especially children. The primary aim of this study is to examine the effects of paternal labor mobility on the children who are affected by it. The study employed the qualitative method of inquiry. The data collection using the snowball sampling technique. The study was done in the tehsil of Khar, located in the Bajaur district. The statistics were gathered from the caretakers of the children who were left behind. Conducted were semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using the thematic data analysis technique. The study revealed that offspring of migrants had enhanced health and educational prospects. There is a positive correlation between budget allocations for health and education and migration. Nevertheless, the children who are abandoned are deeply influenced by their want for their father’s safeguarding, which becomes ingrained in their characters. Likewise, women hold the belief that they are financially stable, however they also encounter emotional strain, isolation, and melancholy. The study aims to aid stakeholders and policymakers in formulating evidence-based social policies that mitigate the adverse impacts of migration on children who are left behind.