This study is an extension of the one concluded in July this year, based only the census data of 1981, 1991 and 2001.

U.A. Shimray and M.D. Usha Devi of the Institute, who did the study on 'Migration of Northeastern Youths', told IANS that earlier northeastern youths would choose to migrate to Kolkata. But lately cities like Delhi and Bangalore have turned into preferred destinations.

'The reason perhaps is because Bangalore and Delhi provide better employment and educational opportunities to the youths,' Shimray said.

'The second phase of the study, to be released by early next year, will be based on primary data, as we're conducting interviews through a set of questions to northeastern youths staying in these two cities (Delhi and Bangalore),' said Devi.

Around 1,000 youths from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura will be interviewed.

'The northeast is a volatile place and militancy and ethnic violence have become part and parcel of the region. So we want to know if reasons like violence in the region is behind the mass migration of youths,' added Shimray.

'The northeast offers very few job opportunities, and educational institutes are also few. Thus youths are forced to leave their homes and hearths in search of greener pastures,' said Ester Rupa, a native of Shillong who works as a BPO executive in Bangalore.

Rupa's friend Takam Talo, 24, who hails from Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, and is working in a call centre here, said after graduation she 'struggled two years to get a job in my native place'.

'After coming to Bangalore, I immediately landed a job in a call centre. Cities like Bangalore and Delhi are a goldmine for the educated youth of the northeast,' said Talo.

(Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in)