Urban Influx and Rising Challenges: A Study o...

Urban Influx and Rising Challenges: A Study of Changing Rural Dynamics and Its Relationship with Natural Disasters in the Mising Communities of Sikom and Jhanjimukh, Assam.

Author Name : Tanuz Kalita, Ankit Jha, Ritushmita Mazumdar, Mrinmoyee Das, Kamal Ngate, Nabin Bhattarai, Renu Kumari, Shahif Ali, Shefali Yadav, Birendra Bist, Dayal Kant Munda, Dipankar Sundi

ABSTRACT This paper examines the cultural shifts and socioeconomic impacts experienced by the Mising tribe in rural Assam, particularly in Japong, Jorhat, and Sikom, Sonitpur, due to urban influx. Using a mixed-method approach, combining historical, sociological, and anthropological insights, the research highlights the dynamic interplay between government policies and community-led initiatives in shaping the lives of the Misings’. Through field surveys, interviews, and data analysis from both primary and secondary sources, the study examines the challenges and opportunities arising from urbanization, focusing on housing, economic opportunities, infrastructure development, cultural disruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, and changes in indigenous methods, tools, and techniques. The results point to a complicated picture where urbanization poses risks to environmental sustainability and cultural preservation in addition to offering promising economic opportunities. The study emphasizes the necessity of adopting comprehensive strategies that strike a balance between environmental resilience, cultural preservation, and economic growth in order to guarantee the survival and well-being of indigenous communities like the Misings’ in the face of fast urbanization.