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VOL. 7, ISSUE 5 (2025)
Family, caste and survival at the margins: A qualitative study of Musahar households in rural eastern Uttar Pradesh
Authors
Md Abdul Mutallib Khan, Mohd Shahbaz Khan, Dr. Mohd Anish
Abstract
This study explores the structure and functions of family among the
Musahar community, one of the most marginalized Scheduled Caste groups in
India, with particular reference to rural Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Located within
the sociological frameworks of caste, marginality and family, the study
examines how Musahar households organize everyday life and sustain survival under
conditions of persistent socio-economic deprivation and caste-based exclusion.
Drawing on secondary demographic and socio-economic data from the Census of
India and existing academic literature, the study situates Musahar families
within broader patterns of landlessness, restricted occupational opportunities,
low literacy and dependence on informal and exploitative labour arrangements.
The study adopts a qualitative research design and is based on fieldwork
conducted in Village Firozpur, District Ballia. Primary data were collected
through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with adult members of selected
Musahar households, supplemented by informal discussions and observations. The
analysis focuses on family structure, household composition, livelihood
strategies, gender roles, educational participation, health practices and
engagement with state welfare schemes. The findings indicate that Musahar
families are predominantly nuclear in residential form, shaped primarily by
structural constraints rather than by processes of modernization. The family
functions as the central unit of economic survival through labour pooling,
involving men, women and children. Educational exclusion of children, gendered
burdens of labour, reliance on informal healthcare and the limited
effectiveness of welfare interventions emerge as key patterns. Although
families demonstrate adaptive strategies, these adaptations do not lead to
upward mobility and instead contribute to the reproduction of intergenerational
poverty. The study highlights the need for integrated, family-centered and
caste-sensitive policy approaches to address the structural roots of marginalization
experienced by Musahar households.
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Pages:143-150
How to cite this article:
Md Abdul Mutallib Khan, Mohd Shahbaz Khan, Dr. Mohd Anish "Family, caste and survival at the margins: A qualitative study of Musahar households in rural eastern Uttar Pradesh". International Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Vol 7, Issue 5, 2025, Pages 143-150
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