North-Eastern Hill University
Department of Anthropology
Invitation for Applications for the post of one PhD Candidate
The Department of Anthropology, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, NorthEastern Hill University (NEHU) invites applications for the post of one doctoral fellowship in
the field of “Nepalese migrants in the coal-mines of India’s Northeast: Risk, Remittances and
Return to Nepal”. The last date for application is 7 March 2012. The shortlisted candidates
will appear for a written examination followed by interview on March 14, 2012. The selected
candidate will be a member of an international research team involving senior researchers
and other PhD scholars from Kathmandu University, Aarhus University, Copenhagen
University and NEHU, and will be expected to take part in all project-related activities as and
when needed. He/she will be paid a month fellowship of Rs 17,000/- plus travel and other
allowances on actual basis.
Brief Background
The main objective of the project is to examine the relationship between migration and
democracy-building in the context of post-conflict Nepal and to identify feasible
recommendations to inform the policy process. Addressing both internal and transnational
forms of migration the project seeks to explore mobile populations as both resources and
challenges for the socio-political and economic stabilization of society, including the framing
of democratic rights in the ‘New Nepal’, and the development of civil society. The aim of the
project, thus, is to address the intended and unintended impact of migration at the household,
community and national levels with particular attention paid to issues of gender, generation,
ethnicity, caste and class.
Labour migration continues to play an enormous role as a way for rural households in
Nepal to maintain a livelihood. The fact that Nepal-India migration has often been
conceptualized as labour migration is not just a reflection of empirical conditions, but also of
an analytical framework that gives priority to socio-economic aspects of migration. By
implication, much of the existing literature on Nepali migration to India have focused on
demographic and socioeconomic dimensions of migration and on the contributions of
economic remittances sent from India to Nepal for the economy on both national and
household level (e.g. Kollmair et al., 2006; Seddon et al., 2002; Subedi, 2003; Thieme and
Müller-Böker, 2004). With its focus on economic, social, cultural and political remittances
the proposed sub-study will add to this body of literature by embedding it within a larger
socio-cultural framework and by paying attention to a particularly vulnerable category of
labour migrants, namely coal-mine workers.
A large number of Nepalese youths began to migrate in early 1980s to the coalmining areas in the Jainitia Hills District of Meghalaya, a state in India’s Northeast. In the
beginning this migration consisted of only men, between the ages of 20-40, and only for the
purpose of seasonal labour. They arrived before the winter started, worked in the mines
through the winter, and went back to Nepal when the rainy season started and the mining in
the Jaintia hills stopped. They would return the next winter with more of their friends and
relatives who easily got employment in the fast expanding coal-mining operations. The loss
of some lives every year due to lack of safety measures did not deter them from returning to
these hills every winter.
These migrants started returning to the coal-mining areas with their wives by mid1980s. They earned well, but spent most of their earnings on alcohol, meat and gambling.
Only a few, especially high-caste Nepalese managed to remit regularly or went back to Nepal
with a considerable amount of cash savings. But all, irrespective of age, sex and caste
background are exposed to coal-dust and polluted water making them victims of respiratory
organs related diseases or water-borne diseases. The treatment of such diseases also makes a
dent on their income.
Eligibility
MA with at least 55% marks in Anthropology with specialization in Social/Cultural
Anthropology. An MPhil degree holder and/or NET qualified candidates will be an additional
qualification. Field experience in Northeast India will be an advantage. Candidates should
have strong oral and written Nepali and English language skills, and should be ready to join
the project by 1st April 2012 on a full time basis. Selection will be strictly on merit basis.
How to apply
Applications including (i) a motivation for the application (200 words), (ii) a statement of
personal research interests toward the goal of the research project, (iii) curriculum vitae
including list of publications, if any, (iv) scanned copies of certificates from Class X and
above, (v) a short abstract of the Master’s or MPhil thesis, and (vi) the names, e-mails,
telephones and addresses of 2 referees.
Duration: Three years
For further details, contact:
Prof. T. B. Subba, Head & PI
Department of Anthropology
NEHU, Shillong 793022
Ph. 0364-3101 (o) Email: tbsubba.shg@gmail.com
or
Dr. Geetika Ranjan, Associate Professor & Co-PI
Department of Anthropology
NEHU, Shillong 793022
Ph. 0364-2723104 (o) Email: geetikaranjan@yahoo.co.in