Session Name: Living Elsewhere: Minority Experiences and Marginalization in Foreign Communities
Social and Economic Coping Behaviors of Tribal Migrants in Cities: A Study of the Kukis in Delhi
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
14:00 – 15:45 (GMT+7)
Paper Abstract: This article draws upon ethnographic research conducted among the Kuki tribe, an indigenous community originating from Northeast India, to investigate the social and economic coping mechanisms they employ upon their arrival in Delhi. Share accommodation, purchasing at 'second-hand' marketplaces, and the formation of Sum Lom are economic behavior that aid in maximising savings and coping with financial constraints. 'Place-making' and the establishment of 'prayer cell' are social coping mechanism that emerge to overcome discrimination and emotional strain. The coping behaviors not only contribute to resolving migrants' socio-economic issues, but also foster a sense of ethnic solidarity and cooperation. They rely on ethnic networks in various ways including advice on finding housing, employment, as well as tips on cultural norms and customs. The findings shed light on the unique experiences and coping strategies of this marginalized tribal group in an urban migration context.