Ethnicity, Mobility and Role of Informal Channels: Evidence from Delhi Slums

Amit Kumar Jha,Nitesh Kumar Singh

doi:10.5296/jsr.v5i1.5367

Amit Kumar Jha, Nitesh Kumar Singh

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5296/jsr.v5i1.5367

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Abstract

<p>This study has focused on the well-being of the migrants and explored the role of informal channels among different ethnic groups and its effect on upward mobility. This was made possible by conducting primary surveys in the slums of Delhi. It was found that the extent of upward income movement seems to exceed the downward income movement though the cases of stagnancy and downward occupational mobility aren’t to be ignored. We concluded that evidences in favour of upward mobility are not overwhelming but it would be equally erroneous to overlook the change that has occurred. With regard to the role of informal channels, we found that in the initial stages while entering the urban labour market, close relatives (from their regional background) matter a lot but subsequently, it is individual inspiration that keeps him going in the labour market.</p>

Highlights

The broader focus of this study is to establish the link between migration and well-being via the regionalism aspect, where an attempt is made to explore the role of informal channels among different regional groups and its effect on upward mobility and well- being of those groups
Since the workers included in the survey have different time patterns of entering into the urban labour market, the question of both upward and downward mobility has been gauged from the most important activity or employment that they held in the past
Conclusions and policy issues we can say that any income support and skill enhancing measures would be a welcome step from government as it can help those who are in the lower income brackets to achieve upward mobility and possibly reduce the downward mobility in relatively higher income brackets

Summary

Introduction

The broader focus of this study is to establish the link between migration and well-being via the regionalism aspect, where an attempt is made to explore the role of informal channels among different regional groups and its effect on upward mobility and well- being of those groups. Various past studies have highlighted the role of informal channels operating through caste-kinship bonds, co villagers and other forms of social capital (Banerjee 1986, Banerjee & Bucci1994, Mitra 2008, Munshi 2003, Kono 2006) to reflect the job market information flow and its importance for the well- being of migrants. Social capital provides the information regarding job availability to the potential migrants in the rural areas and in a way reduces the uncertainties relating to incomes, consumption and housing (Mitra 2003)

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