International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Migration and Upward Mobility: A Life History Study of a Northeastern Informal Worker in Chennai

Author(s) Mr. Shanmuga Raja P, Dr. Chandra Sekaran G
Country India
Abstract Over the past two decades, indigenous youth from Northeast India have increasingly migrated to metropolitan centres such as Delhi and many have also been finding employment in South Indian cities including Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai. These migrants are largely absorbed into informal sectors such as restaurants, shopping malls, security services, and the grooming and hospitality industries. Recently, technological advancements and the expansion of on-demand, platform-based services have further reshaped migration pathways, enabling some workers to move into freelance and gig-based roles outside conventional organisational structures. This paper presents a life-history based case study of a migrant worker from a village in Manipur who relocated to Chennai in search of better economic opportunities. Focusing on a single respondent, the study traces his migration journey and examines how he navigates multiple forms of employment within the urban labour market to enhance his income and pursue upward economic mobility. While improved earnings and living conditions mark a degree of progress, the study demonstrates that precarious work arrangements, income insecurity, and the absence of formal social protections continue to shape his everyday life. This case study also highlights the strategies he adopts to sustain personal dignity and occupational autonomy amid unstable employment conditions. By foregrounding the lived experiences of a migrant worker from Northeast India, this study offers insights into the complex intersections of mobility, precarity, aspiration, and autonomy within India’s contemporary urban informal economy.
Keywords Migrant worker, Freelance, Northeast India, Chennai, Gig work
Published In Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On 2026-02-28
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.70244
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E-ISSN 2582-2160
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