Migration and Rural Development; the Role of Emigrants in Rural Development

Nowadays, Emigrants play an important role in the development of their origins. Some rural emigrants with formation of migrant organizations in large cities such as hometown associations use them to improve the wellbeing, viability and development of their hometown. So their activities and efforts to enhance the viability of rural areas and that makes it belong to the community, participation and stability of rural areas be promoted. The aim of this research is looking for how and through what mechanisms and implications the emigrants impact in promotion of rural wellbeing and rural development. Methodology of this article is based on qualitative research methods. In this qualitative study, data has been collected through techniques of interview, group discussion and oral histories in the hometown associations in Tehran, especially Shabestaries hometown associations (Daryan and Benis), Center of Kurds living/ residing in Tehran, foundation of Khouzestanies living/ residing in Tehran, Association of Mahdi-Sharies/ Sangsaries living/ residing in Tehran; the data has been analyzed by thematic analysis, And the findings have been presented in general. Immigrants and their organizations with strategies such as: “remittances”, “investment in hometown”, “regular travel to hometown”, “transfer of innovations, ideas and capital”, "living as a second home in the village", "rural development measures/ development efforts ", “sending gifts”, “entrepreneurship in hometown”, “trading with hometown” and cases such as such as that mentioned changes the structure and functions of the rural community and thereby lead to rural development. These changes in various areas such as "enhancing various facilities and services in the village", "improving business and employment in rural areas", "local agricultural and economic development", "social vitality of the village", "helping young stability and population increase", "improving living conditions in the village", "rural constructions improvement" and " feeling of peace and tranquility in the village", affected on the development of studied villages. So government agencies can support the establishment of immigrant permanent institutions and hometown associations also they can even encourage immigrants to form these institutions, to be able to use the potentials and forces these institutions and structures to use them for local development and rural well-being.