International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

Migration is a universal phenomenon; people moved from one place to another since time immemorial. Developing countries, like India, always have benefitted from international as well internal migration. The population of India has migrated within the country in search of livelihood and for their subsistence. Goa, too no exception to this phenomenon. This smallest state too received an influx of population almost from all the states of India. One such group, believed to be migrated to Goa around five decades ago, is the nomadic tribe, Banjaras. The findings show that migration has been used as a livelihood strategy by this group. The majority of this nomadic population, primarily hailing from the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh has migrated to Goa in search of their livelihood and has rooted themselves in the land of Goa. Since then, to sustain themselves, they have started working in the state of Goa. This mobile group has its tandas (settlement) in Goa and boomed as a slum area in this tiny state. The study is based on a qualitative approach. Through data from ethnographic research, this study attempts to explore the demographical profile of the Banjaras in Goa. Through this study, the researcher also tries to understand the factors responsible for migration. The purpose of the study is to comprehend the socio-economic status of Banjaras. The research work is based on the primary source of data collected by in-depth interviews of the Banjaras in Vasco-Da-Gama and Cuncolim Town of South Goa District, Goa. The researcher, also, used the observation method to understand the change in their sociocultural life. Keywords: migrant, Banjaras, socioeconomic status, livelihood