[Reader-list] research posting

[rohini patkar]

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Channels and networks

The channels and networks used by these women in getting work are more or less informal. Many of the women interviewed have never heard of agencies that can employ them and charge for it. Most of them have come to Delhi because they already know someone here. In most cases they have a relative in Delhi. When they come here for the first time it is this relative’s home that becomes her first house here. Over time after they start earning they are able to rent a place in a nearby area. In majority of the cases, these relatives do this favour only as an act of kindness and they do not expect any monetary return. These women have a strong sense of gratitude towards these relatives. 
They form a store -house of information, helping them practically with everything in this city. They help them find their bearings in the city, in finding work, helping initially with their work (for example, one woman who used to make Golgappas learnt making golgappas from her relative with whom she stayed in the beginning. These relative are the ones from whom they take loan in the beginning till they find work, help them with the roads and finding their ways, often go with them in finding work, help them negotiate wages, etc. 

Some times these are not even the relatives, they are just from the same village from which these women have migrated. Their decision to migrate is often determined by the information provided by them. They have been staying in Delhi for some time and on their trips back to the village, they pass on the information about city life which combined with hardships of the village life, motivates these women to go. This is not to state that such simple events determine the entire decision to migrate. Of course, it is a more complex one determined by a range of factors.