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Humanitarian sciences in Siberia

2015 year, number

PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR MIGRANT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN THE RSFSR IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1940s - 1980s

S. A. Piskunov
Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, 104, Lenin Str., Blagoveshchensk, 675000
Keywords: agricultural policy, benefits, migration, planned agricultural migration, rural population, building

Abstract

The article addresses the practice of providing accommodation for migrant agricultural workers in the second half of the 1940s-1980s. The research of this aspect touches upon a broader problem of adaptation of migrants arriving in the course of planned migration, which is both scientifically and practically relevant. The significant role in this process belonged to the state initiatives, called “measures of migration incentives” or “benefits” having the dual functional significance. On the one hand, they increased migration flows in accordance with the required vector; on the other hand, they ensured the new settlers’ survival. It is evident that the key measure was provision of accommodation for the newly arrived families. This paper identifies the state’s role in financing the construction of resettlement houses. The terms and conditions of such budgeting depended on the territorial belonging of those households that accepted the new comers. The author applied a problem-chronological method which allowed tracing the evolution of government policy in this area during a period of more than 40 years. On the basis of a wide range of sources the author determines the volume of housing construction and, equally important, its correlation with the number of accepted families. It is established that plans of resettlement construction adopted by the authorities were carried out in two ways - using its own resources (which implied creation of teams at the expense of internal resources of farms and contractors) and by a contractor which was characterized by involvement of specialized construction (building) companies. According to archival records, the first way was less costly and, therefore, more widespread. In conclusion the author highlights the importance of the state funding of the resettlement construction and the key role played by the relevant governmental agencies.