Skip to main content

Discourse on Migration and Human Trafficking from Manipur: Coercion vs Voluntary

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Indigeneity, Development and Sustainability

Part of the book series: Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development ((DTSD,volume 18))

  • 5 Accesses

Abstract

A noteworthy feature of a phenomenon that emerged from the neo-liberal economy has been an unprecedented crime against humanity of national and global dimensions. Human trafficking has been debated within the migration discourse under globalisation. The year 2008 (official record) witnessed the unprecedented trafficking of underage women and children from the state of Manipur located in the North East of India for exploitative purposes, particularly coerced labour, to other parts of the state within the country and across the border. Studies by scholars and activists from North East India region have shown trafficking as the voluntary migration of vulnerable women and children facilitated by middlemen to escape social and economic circumstances. To understand the complex domestic and global problem of human trafficking, the study attempts to understand the   nature of human trafficking from the state of  Manipur  in North East of India, Drawing from ethnographic fieldwork, the chapter focuses on lived experiences of victims of trafficking in persons from the two tribal hill districts in Manipur—Churachandpur and Tamenglong.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Beneath the Surface. (2016). Newsletter of Impulse NGO Network, Vol. 1, Issue: 1, Summer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beneath the Surface. (2016). Newsletter of Impulse NGO Network, Vol. 2, Issue: 2, Autumn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beneath the Surface. (2016). Newsletter of Impulse NGO Network, Vol. 3, Issue: 3, Winter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur. A brief report on human trafficking in Manipur 2008–2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Directorate of Census Operations Manipur, District Census Handbook: Churachandpur, Directorate of Census Operations Manipur, Series-15, Part XII-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Directorate of Census Operations Manipur, District Census Handbook: Tamenglong, Directorate of Census Operations Manipur, 2011 Census of India, Series-15, Part XII-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Education Department, Government of Manipur, Gross and Net Enrolment Ratio in Tamenglong District, 2005–06.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, J. (2007). Informalization, migration, and women: Recent trends in Asia. In Debdas Banerjee & Michael Goldfields (Eds.), Labour, Globalization and the State Workers, Women and Migrants Confront Neoliberalism. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, D. (2012, 12 June). Raids on trains from east and northeast to curb girl trafficking. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Raids-on-trains-from-east-and-northeast-to-curb-girl-trafficking/articleshow/14065165.cms.

  • Ghosh, J. (2017). Migration and gender empowerment: Emerging issues. In Debdas, in S. Irudaya Rajan (Eds.), India Migrations Reader. New Delhi: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haksar, N. (2016). The Exodus Is Not Over: Migrations from the Ruptured Homelands of Northeast India. New Delhi: Speaking Tiger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, K. (2018). Singapore migrant workers struggle to get paid. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/24/asia/singapore-migrant-workers-intl/index.html.

  • Hanjabam, S., Sapam, D., & Ningthoujam, R. (2020). Child Trafficking in the Indo-Myanmar Region. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company (P) Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeer, N. Footloose female labour: Transnational migration, social protection and citizenship in the Asian region, IDRC Working Papers on Women’s rights and Citizenship, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kara, S. (2010). Sex trafficking inside the business of modern slavery. Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharbhih, H. (2013). Human trafficking scenario in northeast India. In Veerendra Mishra (Ed), Human Trafficking: The Stakeholders’ Perspective. Delhi: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharbhih, H. (2015). Opening the Cage. In Raimedhi Indrani (Ed.), My Half of the Sky 12 Life Story of Courage. Delhi: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharbhih, H. (2017). Human Trafficking in Northeast: A Horrid Truth that Remains Unacknowledged. https://yourstory.com/2017/10/human-trafficking-northeast.

  • Annual Report Childline Manipur 2015–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Manpower (Online:web) https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/employers-guide/employment-rules.

  • Mishra, V. (2013). Combating human trafficking: Gaps in law enforcement. In Veerendra Mishra (Ed.), Human Trafficking: The Stakeholders’ Perspective. Delhi: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaraj, A. (2017). Trafficked on Myanmar passport, Indian housemaid struggle to return home. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-myanmar-trafficking/trafficked-on-myanmar-passports-indian-housemaids-struggle-to-return-home-idUSKBN1D71M2.

  • Naseem, S. M. (2007). Informalization, migration, and women: Recent trends in Asia. In Debdas Banerjee & Michael Goldfield (Eds.), Labour, Globalization and the State Workers, Women and Migrants Confront Neoliberalism. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newmai, A. (2016). Unspoken voices of trafficked women and children in Manipur. Economic and Political Weekly, LI(44 & 45), 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newmai, A. The politics of trafficking tribal women in Manipur-North East. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273769876_The_politics_of_trafficking_amongst_tribal_women_in_Manipur_-_North-East_India.

  • Niumai, A. (2012). The politics of trafficking tribal women in Manipur-North East India. In Shahida Murtaza (Ed.), Understanding Women’s issues-A feminist standpoint. Lambert Academic Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papola, T. S. (1980). Informal sector: Concept and policy. Economic and Political Weekly. Special Article: 817–824.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajan, S. I. (2017). The changing face of Indian migration. In S. Irudaya Rajan’s (Ed.), India Migrations Reader. New Delhi: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ram, A. (2010). Trauma over Manipuri children head back home. https://devapriyaji.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/trauma-over-manipuri-children-head-back-home/.

  • Sen, A. (2000). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, S. (2016). Child trafficking in the Indo-Myanmar region: A case study in Manipur. A Study commissioned by Manipur Commission for Protection Child Rights (MCPCR).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sitlhou, H., & Lamtinthang, H. (2014). Women organisation and collective protest: Nature, scope and challenges. In Hoineilhing Sitlhou (Ed.), Kuki Women. New Delhi: Bookwell Publication. Social Welfare Department. Government of Manipur. http://socialwelfaremanipur.nic.in/ women.htm.

  • Times of India. (2010, 02 January). Child trafficking racket exposed in Kanyakumari, Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/child-trafficking-racket- exposed-in-kanyakumari/videoshow/5502040.cms?

  • Times of India. Documentary on child trafficking racket exposed in Kanyakumari. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/child-trafficking-racket-exposed-in-kanyakumari/videoshow/5502040.cms?

  • UNODC. (2014). Global report on Trafficking in Persons 2014. UN Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNODC. (2018). Global report on Trafficking in Persons 2016. UN Publication, Sales No. E16. IV. 6 UNODC. Global report on Trafficking in Persons 2018. UN Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, D. (1996). Foreign domestic workers in Singapore. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 5(1), 117–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaithoilu Gangmei .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gangmei, G. (2024). Discourse on Migration and Human Trafficking from Manipur: Coercion vs Voluntary. In: Chakrabarti, A., Chakraborty, G., Chakraborty, A.S. (eds) Indigeneity, Development and Sustainability. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development, vol 18. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1436-0_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1436-0_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-97-1435-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-97-1436-0

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics