Transitioning from Caste-bound Village Occupations to Peri-urban Jobs: Experiences of Dalit Migrant Labourer

Abstract

Transitioning from rural occupations to peri-urban spaces is driven by certain reasons, prompting this study to delve into the discourse of Dalit migrant labour and caste dynamics. This shift is marked by economic oppression, intensifying the challenges for casual migrant workers who encounter low wages, social and economic oppression and mental distress. These social, economic and mental challenges hinder their ability to advocate for their rights within the confines of socio-religious barriers and exclusionary societal structures. This article specifically examines the presence and impact of caste in urban peripheries, highlighting the persistence of cheap labour at brick kilns. Migrants, brought by various contractors, endure continuous discrimination. The combination of generational bias, social stigma, limited assets, minimal education and a lack of political, cultural and social connections sustains oppression, despite India’s economic growth and its rank as the world’s fifth-largest GDP. Ambedkar’s vision of Dalits finding freedom from rural oppression in developed peri-urban settings remains unrealized. Seeking relief from unpaid services hierarchical caste in village, Dalits migrate to urban peripheries, where they face again heightened caste discrimination, exploitation, abuse and insecurity, especially in brick kilns. This study brings a new dimension to the understanding of caste in peri-urban space.