Home Bound
Economic aspirations and social imperatives are the dul engines that power this mass mobility. Among migrants, women constitute a significant majority, driven by the traditional practice of village exogamy, which necessitates a bride's relocation post-marriage. Beyond the bounds of social customs, economic motivations cast a wide net, drawing individuals and families alike in the often elusive pursuit of prosperity and stability. With low literacy and few skills to match the demands of the new urban economy, the jobs that await them are largely in the informal sector, lacking formal work contracts, paid leave, health benefits, and social security provisions. Many live in unstable housing; some sleep on the floors of the shops and factories they work in, others on the streets outside. The unrecognized labor of street vendors, waste-recyclers, headloaders, construction workers, cooks, home-based artisans, dairy workers, and farmers fuels India’s economic growth.
Krtikeya Bhatotia (Research)
Deepak Ramola (Video)
Hiteshree Das (Design)
William Boles (Collage)
Amit Dave (Photographs)
Mitul Kajaria (Photographs)