The thesis critically examines the socio-economic dynamics that underpin labor migration and precarious work conditions in the powerloom shopfloors and agrarian villages. Through immersive fieldwork and rigorous qualitative analysis, I investigate the complex interplay of informality, political economy, and meaning making that shapes workers' decisions to engage in precarious labor. My study employs a multi-sited ethnographic approach to elucidate the process of precaritization in labor migration, contributing to ongoing theoretical debates on value, the construction of personhood, political subjectivity, and the nature of labor and capital in extractive spaces. This research aims to expand our understanding of precarity beyond its conventional conceptualisations, offering nuanced insights into the lived experiences of migrant workers. The thesis is due for submission in December 2024. My doctoral thesis advisors are Maunaguru Siddharthan (UofT) and Sahana Ghosh (NUS).
Table of Contents of the dissertation.
