Labour Migration A Study of Migrant Construction Workers in Kashmir

Abstract

This thesis attempts to understand and describe the lived interstate experiences of migrant workers who have been migrating across the various Indian states. The core of this thesis is based on drawing the trajectory of the process of migration beginning from the place of origin to the place of destination along with intervening factors at both places. The data was collected from an extensive field survey of the construction workers working in the district Srinagar of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The thesis has also relied on secondary data sources on migration streams, population, and labour markets. newlineA study on construction workers in the present context is of key importance. It has been mostly found that migrant workers move from less developed regions towards the most developed ones. Studies have also shown that migration is carried out either as a survival strategy or as a risk-coping strategy. But in the present context, it makes it quite important to understand the trajectory of migrant workers from their places of origin towards one of the conflict-ridden zones which are characterized by frequent lockdowns, communication blockades, civil uprising, enforced disappearances, and massive killings. The existing studies have also pointed towards the casual and unregulated mode of employment with least or no social security benefits at the workplace. They work in precarious conditions while living either at or around hazardous workplaces. Also, while living in different socio-cultural set-up they face acculturative stress which affects their overall well-being at the place of destination. newlineGiven the broad context which is mentioned above, I addressed three research objectives in my study. First, the key determinants of labour migration, that is the thesis endeavored to comprehend the various push and pull factors among migrant workers working in the construction sector in the Srinagar district. Second, the thesis attempts to understand the living and working experience of these construction workers.