Migration and Work Culture in Kashmir valley: A Study of Interstate Migrant Workers in the Brick Kilns of Budgam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62656/Keywords:
Brick kilns, Interstate migrant workers, Kashmir, Higher wages, Rural-to-rural migrationAbstract
The study examines the socio-economic dynamics of interstate migrant labour from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh working in the brick kilns of district Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir. By understanding and analysing the work experiences and underlying motivations of these workers, the study explores how migration shapes and supports their livelihood strategy. The study is structured around two primary objectives: examining the role of social networks and identifying the main push and pull factors in facilitating this migration. Adopting a qualitative framework based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 40 workers, the study reveals that this migration while actively mediated by social networks is driven by various push factors such as monsoon failure, low wages and unemployment. The major pull factors include moderate climate, higher wages, abrogation of article 370 and labour shortages in Kashmir valley. The findings also indicate that this migration is mainly rural-to-rural and seasonal in character. Operating under a piece wage rate system, workers often migrate along with family members to maximise overall family income. Furthermore, the study highlights the abrogation of Article 370 as a transformative factor that has not only increased the labour inflows but reshaped their perception of right to work and navigate the Kashmir’s landscape.
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