The Dynamics of Employment among the Tangkhul Nagas

By Marchang Reimeingam

Published: Khanrin, TKLD, Oct-Dec 2005

The Tangkhul Nagas are one of the major tribes among the 29 recognised tribes from Manipur. The Tangkhuls dominate in Ukhrul Hill District in India and in Somra Hills in Myanmar. The population size, mostly Tangkhuls, of Ukhrul was close to 0.14 million in 2001 (Census). In the same year only 47 percent of the total population were participating in economic activities. Notably the share of marginal workers, who engaged in economic activity for less than 6 months in a year, in total workers (main plus marginal) has dramatically increased from about 3 to 23 percent during 1991-2001. This increased of the share is primarily due to the definitional change. But there is also an indication of stagnation of job where labour can engage throughout the year, in other words there is an absence of full time work, thereby induces to participate as a marginal/subsidiary workers. Moreover though there is an increase in full time enrolment of higher education but due to the insufficiency and inadequacy of economic necessity which oblige to work as part time/marginal workers thereby the share of marginal workers rose. Also the share of marginal workers is higher for females than males possibly due to the females’ immobility, social restriction, inaccessibility, incapability, unwillingness, dependences on males, etc. Importantly from many misperception of job deliverance and acceptance the higher share of females participation as marginal workers implies the job choice differentials particularly with respect to income.

In a situation where family incomes are low and the level of secured and permanent job preference of males in particular is supernaturally high, as in case of Tangkhuls, as long as they can afford of being unemployed, the remedy seemingly lies on family females to supplement (by not only in terms of money wage but by collecting firewood etc.) their needs. Because, likely, females job seekers are comparatively more flexible regarding the wage than males. With the increasing unavailability and uncertainty of employment in Ukhrul gradually migration in all directions is taking place with the hope and expectation of getting job. This resulted due to an inconsistency between the rapidly growing educational level and almost stagnantly growing employment generation.

The situation in Ukhrul cannot be equalised with Delhi but let us consider an example to somehow justify with migrants, with reason of migration as job, to a place like Delhi where the nominal wage rates are significantly high in comparison with the wage of place of origin. With an increase of demand for manufacturing retail goods and services, hotels and restaurants, and increasing demand for BPO jobs seemingly infinite alternative job avenues are on opening. In the process private job hunters are experiencing variety of job offer. These migrants are normally mobile and active young people who have ‘higher marginal expectation of earning’. The young who are at their prime age of 25 years generally has higher expectation with the greater exposure in relation with the educational investment. Generally most of the job aspirants wants to hold a permanent and secure jobs in the situation where permanent job particularly government is increasingly dwindling. In the process there are many openings of private job which offers higher wage/salary but the security is less, unlike the government, where one has to be (over) prepared of any time dismiss from the job.

The types of labour demanded by employers and supplied by job seekers if mismatched then unemployment resulted. After completing their affordable educational level the increasing hardship in searching and ‘waiting’ for employment in their respective hometown induces to out-migrate with an expectation of getting job. A waiting period is the time differentials between the start time of searching/applying for job and the actual employed time of job. A waiting period depends on employability and or the compatibility of the type and nature of supply and demand for labour in the labour market. Employability covers the requirements of necessary knowledge and skills to execute the prescribe work by the employers. Moreover the offering/prevailing labour market wage rate act as one of the important determinants of waiting period of employment.

While the nature of educational development continues in the line of almost conventional education which society and the economy urge to impart education on the basis of the present demand in the likelihood of future requirements of education. This can take place only when new educational infrastructures are established or replaced to the existing old system. This will decelerate the growing educated unemployment due to the matches between the type of demand for and supply of labour in the market. However if the supply exceeds the demand then the employer will try to absorb more labour by slashing wage rate or retain the existing size of employees. In such situation the wage bargaining power is considerably great for employer. The substitution of minimum prescribed qualification with extra qualifications or previous job experiences became the contending point on wage bargain for employer. This is being experiencing among the present job seekers who possess the requisite educational qualification.

Interestingly, among the notable Tangkhul females there is a sea change in the concept of job where considerable nature of job preference became no barrier for earning. Whether be it in retail shops or hotels/restaurants or in front desk private offices or in call centres the presence of young charming educated people are flooded. No matter jobs are little insecure but knowledge and experiences are enhanced so that one can use as input in establishing a similar business. There is a high likelihood that these females are being employed due to the economic circumstance or taking responsibility through family pressure or to supplement economic satisfactory or to meet their unmet needs or lack of interest in acquiring higher education. Rather one can ascertain the profound sacrifices made by females through bearing to subside their family burden in educating ‘brother(s)’. This implies the changing dynamics of employment among the Tangkhuls. Among the Tangkhuls the sex ratio of working persons is visibly high. This may partially be due to the cause and effect of ‘economic/status/life style demonstration’ particularly among the prime age group and partially due to a realisation of responsibility among the matured age group. Nevertheless there is an indication of indiscrimination between the sexes among the Tangkhuls on education which can be justified by the students’ sex ratio of Delhi.

Importantly, the increasing contribution of Tangkhul females in the modern labour market possibly explains to – loosen the notion of dependence on males; demonstrate in narrowing down the superiority in conduct of life between the sexes through earning; a readiness to equally risk in facing any consequences of life by breaking the social barrier; exhibit via practicality on their capabilities, and also in overcoming the inabilities; present the neglected value of household work performed in terms of money value etc. 
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For citation: Marchang Reimeingam, The Dynamics of Employment among the Tangkhul Nagas, Khanrin, TKLD, Delhi, Oct-Dec 2005.