Dynamics of migration an ethnographic study of migrant labour in Jammu region

Abstract

Dynamics of Migration: An Ethnographic study of Migrant Labour in Jammu Region has given an account on the life of migrant laborers who have migrated from different states of India to Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir state to find work. It further looks in to the role of Government for the betterment of the life of the migrant laboers. Three such provisions which should be considered by the Centre are: first they should not be forced to leave their home states because of factors like underemployment, distressed agricultural conditions and lack of infrastructure. Second, when they migrate, respective State Governments should ensure that they are getting basic facilities at the work site, payment of wages on time, help by the local police in case they are caught in conflict with local contractors and clear terms of employment. Third, there should be a focus on skill development in the country. This would serve a dual purpose. First, it would increase the avenues of finding employment in their home states and second, even if they choose to migrate, they would find better job opportunities in the labour market. State Government s policies and work are mainly state-centric, they tend to work for local people of the state only and since migrant labourers are outsiders, they are not given facilities at par with the local people. newline