SIR Exercise In AP Again Highlights Migration From Rayalaseema Districts
13.79 per cent people who migrate from the state for livelihoods are from the Kadapa, Kurnool, and Nandyal districts: officials
KURNOOL: Migration of people from their homes in Andhra Pradesh for livelihoods is the highest in the Rayalaseema districts Kadapa, Kurnool, and Nandyal, with these three districts accounting for 13.79 per cent of the state’s total migrant population.
The trend came to light during the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, where officials conducted door-to-door verification and voter mapping.
According to official estimates, out of 14.43 lakh permanent migrants across the state, 1.99 lakh people belong to these three districts. Kurnool tops the list, with over 76,413 people identified as permanent migrants. Of them, nearly 80 per cent are settled in Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, and Visakhapatnam, while others have moved to Bengaluru and Bellary in Karnataka.
Nandyal district follows with over 67,800 people living away from their native places, many of them concentrated in Guntur district. Kadapa has also recorded significant migration, with 55,691 people identified as permanently relocated.
However, the migrants retain their voting rights in their native districts. Though living away for months, they return briefly for festivals like Sankranti or when general elections are scheduled.
“We moved here six years ago for our livelihood. Our entire family is now settled here,” said S. Beerappa, a migrant labourer currently working in Vinukonda town of Palnadu district. He is originally from Pattikonda in Kurnool district.
Officials say migration has largely been driven by lack of local employment opportunities and erratic rainfall. “Due to poor rains, there is no work back home. That is why we continue to stay here,” said Talari Chinnamma, a labourer based in Narasaraopet, also in Palnadu district.
Field-level staff have flagged challenges in updating voter records. “We visited houses twice and distributed forms. But there has been no response from many families. If they fail to respond under the SIR process, they may fail to retain their vote,” said S. Srinivasulu, a booth level officer from Kurnool.
Migration is particularly high from constituencies such as Pattikonda, Adoni, and Alur in Kurnool district.
Alongside migration in SIR, officials have identified a high number of deaths and duplicate entries in voter rolls. On average, each of these districts has reported over 50,000 deceased voters and a similar number of duplicate entries.
Officials disclose that when combined—permanent migration, deaths, and duplicate entries—each district could see nearly 1.5 lakh votes being struck off, significantly impacting electoral rolls.