Kamaldinova A

Kamaldinova A.A.

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Kazakhstan, Almaty

ADAPTATION OF ORALMAN

IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Due to its history, Kazakhstan was and is still in the centre of mighty migration and demographic processes for centuries. In spite of this, Kazakhstan is a home place for more than 100 nationalities and all the ethnic groups live in tolerance and respect to customs and traditions of each other. Nowadays, in the era of globalization the regulation matters of migration process took on special significance, because positive and negative sides of this phenomenon, influence on the development of any country in the world. On the base of global migration lies common tendency of migration from least to more developed and democratic countries, as well as ethnic and cultural links. Kazakhstan is one of the examples of such processes.

Diasporal policy of Kazakhstan after being independent, concentrated on attracting ethnic Kazakhs in to the territory of the Republic. It is considered as a factor of the state stability, aimed at preserving of national originality.

From 1991, from the moment of proclaiming the state independence, the Republic of Kazakhstan declared officially the priority of migration policy as a right of any Kazakh being outside the historic homeland, come back and adjust in the country. Under the article 1 Law on “Migration of population”, Oralmans are foreigners or people without citizenship of Kazakh nationality, constantly living outside the country at the moment of gaining sovereignty by the Republic of Kazakhstan and who come to Kazakhstan for permanent residing [1].

The migration of ethnic Kazakhs – Oralmans to their historical motherland is mainly going on from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tadzhikistan, China and Russia and also Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Some number of Oralmans come from other CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Denmark and Israel, but in the less number.

In accordance to the calculations about 5 million ethnic Kazakhs live in more than 40 countries in the world. From this about 1.5 million live in Uzbekistan, 1.5 million in China, 1 million, in Russia, 100000 in Turkmenistan, 80 000 in Mongolia and 45 000 live in Kyrgyzstan. Another significant part of Kazakhs is in Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran [2]. It is also known that ethnic Kazakhs live in Western Europe, Asia, North and South America. Mainly, the most significant percentage of Kazakh abroad is descendants of those who left the Soviet Union in 1920s and 1930s, rescuing from repressions, political mess, forcible collectivization and famine [3]. It is considered that about 200 000 Kazakhs left the Soviet Union, moving mainly to China, Mongolia, India, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey, while the number of Kazakhs in the neighboring Soviet Republics increased to 2.5 times in the period from 1926 to 1930, containing more than 794 000 people.

Under the article 1 Law “On migration”, which was set in June 1992, ethnic Kazakhs were given the right to come back to “historical motherland”. It was determined by the Government to establish immigration quota and creation of specialized Agency on the matter of ethnic immigration for optimized regulation of expected streams of Oralmans.

From economical and historical point of view, returning of ethnic Kazakhs is a justified step, which is directed to conservation of national originality of the state and reinforce inner stability. For the period of “Soviet” years many Kazakh traditions were forgotten and lost, considerably decreased the usage of Kazakh language. From this position, returning of ethnic Kazakhs is one of the key moments of the state migration policy, directed to save Kazakh culture.

So, for 24 years of independence of Kazakhstan, the Republic became home for more than 952,8 thousand Oralmans [4].

Due to statistic data from 1991 to 1, January 2015 259 159 families or 952 882 ethnic Kazakhs returned to their historical motherland and got a status “oralman”. In the country in 2014it was 3 792 families or 8 247 ethnic Kazakhs, that formed 5,5 % of the general number of population of the country [4].

Obviously, that the most comfortable places to settle Oralmans turned out to be district of South Kazakhstan - 21,2 %, Almaty district – 16,3 %, Mangystau district – 13,0 %, Zhambyl district – 9,4 % and other regions – 40,1 %.

The main factors, that influence on settling of Oralmans out of quota are: nearness of departed country, language, climate and possibility in placing in a job. For example, mainly and as a rule many Oralmans arrive from neighboring territory – Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey into South Kazakhstan, choosing this region because of propitious warm climate and nearness to previous living districts (in the case of unsuccess, they have an opportunity to return). Also Oralmans prefer South propitious because Kazakh language is mainly spread in this region. Additional reasons of choosing this or that territory for living may be historical links and presents of relatives.

Mangistau district attracts migrants from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and especially from Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakia. The region attracts greater amount of Oralmans due to high level of salary.

We have to note, that according to the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 20, March 2014 at №248 the List of regions for Oralman’s settling was established. In comparison with the previous years, the geography has been extended for two times, the regions became 14: Akmolinsk, Aktyubinsk, Almaty, Atyrau, East Kazakhstan, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kyzylorda, Kostanai, Mangistau, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan – regions [4].

Nevertheless, the secondary migration frequently takes place among Oralmans (or move to another district / region). The main factors, which influence the high level of such migration are:

- difficulties in placing in a job, especially in countryside districts (partly because of breakdown of collective farms / state farms);

- remoteness of schools and hospitals from a house, where they live, and also absence of possibility to study in some countryside districts;

- high cost of fare from countryside districts to the nearest towns and under – developed country infrastructure.

Oralmans from Northern and Central regions are more tend to migrate from countryside regions to cities. As a rule, in South regions the less number of respondents change place of their first settling.

From 2014 it was established that living abroad ethnic Kazakhs, who return to constant place of living into Kazakhstan, will have the opportunity how to choose a region for living themselves. Oralmans will be given: fare benefits, benefits on luggage transportation, they will be given official leasing housing, which may be privatized after five years of living there.

It is also revealed that the number able – bodied age form 55,6%, including children under 18 years old – 39,9 %, and retired people – 4,5 %. It is also known that from the number of able – bodied age Oralmans on level of knowledge 8,7 % have high education, 20,5 % - secondary high education, 61,0 % - secondary education, 9,8 % have no education [4].

Living out of Kazakhstan for 70 and more years Oralmans could save national language and traditions. Nevertheless, adaptation and integration of ethnic Kazakhs in the modern society of Kazakhstan are still objects of many discussions in the Government, mass media and society. Some of Oralmans could integrate into local communities more or less successful, but others often face with problems, which force some of them return to the countries, from where they came.

Like in other countries with ethnic policy of immigration (for example, Germany, Israel, Russia) returning of Oralmans into Kazakhstan is encouraged extensively. According to this directions a great work is realized , but nevertheless, still the question of economical and social integration after settling the Oralmans in the border of the country is actual. Despite quite high level of economic development of Kazakhstan, there are still some Oralmans with significant difficulties and form one of the most vulnerable groups in the country.

For today, there are still some difficulties for successful integration of ethnic repatriates into Kazakh society, which mainly depend on language, psychological and cultural adaptations.

Oralmans who come from countries which do not enter CIS have particular difficulties. Often they face the factor of widen distribution of Russian language into social life. Especially it is seen in Northern regions of the country. More comfortable are people who live in South and Eastern, and also in monoethnic districts of Western, Northern and Central regions due to the fact that their national traditions including the language are saved much better.

So, it is clear that their right and effective settling and adaptation of Oralmans have an important meaning for demography, social and economical policy of Kazakhstan. That is why it is actually necessary to develop and intensify corresponding mechanisms of integration of Oralmans in historical motherland.

Knowledge of the language and skills in speaking the language of the excepting country is an important indicator of successful integration of repatriates and appears as one of the key conditions of integration in labour, social relationship and cultural life of the country where they arrived.

According to (article 29-3) Law on “Migration of population”, the Republic of Kazakhstan must give help to Oralmans in placing in a job, rising qualification and mastering a new profession [7]. Nevertheless, integration programmes of giving help to Oralmans in placing in a job are absent.

With the aim of fast adaptation and integration, local organs of Government as a help recommend just arrived Oralmans register at organs of employment or offer temporary placing in a job. In their turn, local centers of employment organized courses on gaining a new profession. However, such courses function only in Russian language, which limit participation of those who don’t know the language.

The state aspires to support Oralmans. So, in accordance to Kazakh legislation, they are giving rights on range of privileges and compensations, including invalidity allowance unemployment benefit, pension, address social help. The condition to get such privileges is proving the status of “oralman”.

In general representative organs in the sphere of education actively participate in the process supplying Oralmans with access to education.

Despite the facts that the number of people who come back to the historical motherland increases, no one will argue today that Oralmans face a great amount of problems of socio-economical, socio-cultural adaptation, and also matters of civic right character: solving these problems is first of all mission of the state.

Announcing officially about the state programme of returning ethnic Kazakhs to their historical motherland, the state look a range of duties. The sphere of duties relate to creation, first of all, corresponding civic rights, economical and socio-cultural conditions for Oralmans.

In the process of adaptation of an immigrant they highlight several stages. The first takes place in the previous place of living and typical for potential migrants. On the second stage moving takes place, influence is shown by the type of settling and character of employment of an immigrant. When moving into a city farmer immigrant face unusual depersonalized forms of contact, pragmatic social affairs. The next stage of adaptation is determined by immigrant employment, by how the employment answers the immigrant expectations. Conclusive stage is assimilation, characterized by the psychological reorganization confluence of the immigrants with the sphere.

In the analysis of adaptation process it is important to understand factors that help or disturb successful adjustment of a person. The thing is, if a person successfully manages with such problems as looking for a housing, job, solving such problems as leisure activity, communication, so he can solve and other problems. Is such problems are not solved, long in time, so this leads a person into a stressful situation, one stress leads to another, and as a result there will come frustration.

In many researches of problems of integration of Oralmans they make a conclusion about necessity of material as well as moral-psychological support of repatriates, to realize plans of successful integration of Oralmans it is important to a study foreign experience on creation new psychological adaptation of repatriates. So, for example, in the South Korea in 2007 Ministry of education and development took measures directed on protection of children – refugees from the North Korea to an opportunity for adaptation in school system and also guarantee help in getting education. An important step to develop this sector of special education was opening in Anson city the school “Hankyoreh Middle and High school” in 2007 for children refugees from North Korea. It’s noteworthy that the aim of this school is mainly not to give academic knowledge but to make the process of adaptation, “acclimatization” of these children more painless.

The problem of psychological adaptation of Oralmans is also actual in our country. The interest to it is realized in scientific research and practical work. So, professor Kalysh Amanzhol of Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi is a scientific project supervisor, dedicated to psychological adaptation of Oralmans. The result of survey under the scientific project allowed to make a conclusion, counting of which helped to optimized the integration of studying Oralmans. So, one of the problems for Oralman is weak knowledge of the history of Kazakhstan. So, they made a decision to increase the number of hours of teaching that subject at the sub course in KazNU.

In order to improve the process of integration of Oralmans we need to transform and optimize economical and social policy towards Oralmans. There is a necessity in creating state programmes on adaptation of Oralmans in Kazakhstan. Such programme which is based on a new financial approach could even Oralmans, coming by quota and out of it and will deal with matters of economical adaptation including those that link with employment, entrepreneur works; social adaptation with giving housing and medical service, getting education; and also cultural and language adaptation.

LITERATURE

1 Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on “Migration of population” from 2, July 2011 № 477 – IV.

2 The speech of President Nazarbaev N.A. on the Third World Kurultai of Kazakhs in Astana on 25, September 2005.

3 Kazakh nation in Kazakhstan decreased from 3,63 mill in 1926 to 2,31 mill in 1939. At the same period nation of ethnic Russians increased from 1,26 mill to 2,45 mill (officially data of the population census in 1926 and 1939).

4 For the period of 24 years in Kazakhstan arrived 952,8 thousands Oralmans. - http://www.zakon.kz/4681839-za-24-goda-v-kazakhstan-pribyli-9528.html

5 “About inserting changes in to Resolution of Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 20, March 2014 № 248 “About distinguishing regions for settling Oralmans” // Ministry of health and social development at the Republic of Kazakhstan.

7 Article 29-3 Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on “Migration of population” from 2, July 2011 № 477 – IV.