The data concerning motivation to migrate either to Palembang or to OKU regency in this section are based on the surveys that have been conducted in both areas, and other surveys which are relevant to this discussion.
The migrant survey in Palembang was conducted in 1974 by LEKNAS-IDRC under the sponsorship of South Sumatra Cooperative
Development Project (SSCDP). The sample was based on purposive random sampling. The migrant tabulation was based on the previous place of residence. A migrant in this survey was defined as a person whose place of previous residence was not Palembang and who had already
stayed in this city for more than six months. The results of this
survey show that only 64 per cent of the migrants came from other provinces. Therefore, in interpreting the findings one should keep in mind that the internal movement within South Sumatra (rural to urban, or urban to urban) was included in all the figures.
Since most of the migrants in OKU regency are transmigrants, the information about them will be suitable enough to represent all
migrants in this area. The condition of transmigrants before moving
will be derived from the survey that was conducted by LEKNAS in asso ciation with the Directorate General of Transmigration in March and April 1975 in West Java, Central Java, East Java and Bali (trans
migrants were interviewed at their gathering centres). In addition,
the survey that was conducted by the Faculty of Economics, University of Sriwijaya, also in association with the Directorate General of Transmigration will be included for studying the conditions of trans
migrants at their new places (OKU regency). This survey was conducted
in October 1975 at Belitang transmigration area in OKU regency.
5.8.1 Motivation for Migration
The SSCDP survey results reported that the main reason for moving to Palembang was economic, such as 'finding a job, etc.'
(37 per cent). This was followed by the reason 'join the family'
(27.5 per cent). Some migrants in this city came for the purposes of
study (7.5 per cent) and 6.3 per cent gave their reasons as 'duty to
assume new assignment in the city'. Fifteen per cent said that they
cannot specify their reason ('just came'), 2.3 per cent were 'attracted by the life in the city' and 4.4 per cent came because of 'other
reasons' (LEKNAS-IDRC, 1974; 2-28).
As most of the migrants to OKU have been transmigrants, it can be said that transmigrants were moved by the government for their own benefit as well as for the purpose of carrying out a government
transmigrant household heads said that they joined the transmigration scheme because they imagined they would have a better life in a new place. Only 8 per cent wanted to participate in development, 3.5 per cent were attracted by their families and 1.5 per cent said they felt compelled to move (LEKNAS, 1976; 33). The high percentage of those who imagined to have a better life in the new places could be inter preted as being motivated by economic reasons, because most of the transmigrants were in economically poor condition when they moved. Almost 50 per cent of the people who joined this scheme had no
possessions, and almost 30 per cent had only land or a house (LEKNAS, 1976; 23).
The conclusion to these findings is economic motivations are the main reasons or at least play an important role in motivating people to move to either urban or rural areas.
5.8.2 Improved Standard of Living
An interesting finding of the SSCDP survey is that the migrants in the city tended to involve themselves in independent jobs
like a small business rather than becoming government servants. Becak driving appeared in second place. Working as a manual labourer was only transitional. The survey showed that many migrants did this job when they first came to Palembang, but they were able to find other
sources of employment once they became familiar with the city.
This survey also showed that the economic condition and status of the migrants in the city had improved. An upward shift in the income level of the migrants was observed. In the place of origin
only 44.3 per cent of migrants had a monthly income of between
Rp.5,000 - Rp.25,000 plus. At the time of the survey, 69.3 per cent
of the migrants were in this income group (LEKNAS-IDRC, 1974; 2-30).
The survey in the Belitang transmigration area (OKU regency) showed that the transmigrants were involved in agricultural activities. In the place of origin many of them, however, did not work in agri
culture (41.9 per cent including children). For example, many of
them worked as traders, craftsmen, teachers, or were unemployed.
The improvement in living conditions for the transmigrants in the new place (Belitang) is noteworthy, particularly if one keeps in mind that most transmigrants did not bring with them any valuable
possessions. In Belitang, some of these transmigrants already have
their own hosues, land and have even accumulated other possessions such as breeding animals, bicycle, radio, sewing machine, watches
and other home furniture. Certainly all of these things were obtained
by excess agricultural production which could be sold and other goods purchased (Direktorat Jendral Transmigrasi, 1976; 38-40).
Finally, these findings prove that migrants to Palembang (urban area) and OKU (rural area) had a better standard of living as compared with their living conditions in their place of origin.
Summary
Concerning the number of migrants there was one migrant
for every five persons in both Palembang and OKU regency. This ratio
is significant enough to influence many aspects of population in these
characteristics of migrants in urban areas (Palembang) and rural areas (OKU) were entirely different in-many situations.
The first finding shows that, despite many migrants who came to Palembang, the intercensal growth rate of the population in
this city was low. It was the outmigration stream as a counter balance
which disguised this phenomenon. Unlike Palembang, OKU regency showed
the highest growth rate of its population among the various areas in
this province. The transmigration program to South Sumatra, which was
mainly directed to this regency, could be the primary cause of this observation.
The age data of migrants by the time they came to this province during the ten years preceding the census, revealed identical age structures which are commonly found among the urban and rural
migrants. The age structure of rural migrants, however, was much
younger than for those who went to the urban areas. Obviously, the
dependency ratio of rural migrants was higher than those of urban migrants.
With regard to their education, it is very clear that most migrants, whether they moved to urban areas or to rural areas, had a very low level of educational attainment and a large number of them
had no education. Nevertheless, migrants to urban areas (Palembang)
were in a better situation than those in rural areas (OKU) because many were better educated.
The participation of migrants in the labour force was higher in rural areas (OKU) than for those in urban areas (Palembang). The involvement of rural migrants in the agricultural activities caused
their participation rates to be high, especially in the case of those
who employed their family members. These circumstances could be seen
from the high percentage of 'unpaid family workers' in rural areas. On the other hand, most women in urban areas (Palembang) were engaged
in household duties in their own homes (housekeeping). In general,
however, migrants to either urban or rural areas had higher labour force participation rates than the population as a whole in each area.
In relation to the occupational status of the migrants, it was clearly observed that the migrants in rural areas (OKU) had
I
very little job variation. Invariably most of them were involved in
agricultural activities. On the other hand, Palembang provided many
variations of occupations, ranging from agricultural to high ranking
jobs. According to their level of education, many migrants worked in
insecure jobs in the categories of 'sales', 'service' and 'production', such as coolies, street vendors, hawkers, maids, cleaners, and becak
drivers. Economically, a high number of migrants entering these
sorts of activities did not improve and accelerate the development
process of the city. About 20 per cent of the migrants had good
positions.
The participation of economically active migrants in the
industrial sectors in Palembang and OKU was significant. In Palembang