CONVERSATIONS ON THE EDGE OF DAL LAKE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF TOURISM, UNCERTAINTY AND POVERTY AMONG THE SHIKARA RIDERS IN DISTRICT SRINAGAR OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
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Abstract
The current study intends to explore the prevalence and nature of poverty faced by the boatmen in district Srinagar due to lockdown imposed in the aftermath of de-operationalization of article 370 of the constitution of India, which gave special status to the then state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on primary data collected by interviewing twenty boatmen, this study seeks to examine the challenges faced by the boatmen during the lockdown and alternative methods adopted by them to earn their livelihood. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit participants. Open-ended interviews, field observations and case studies proved helpful in collecting the required data. After critical analysis of data, the key themes that emerged are (i) political instability, (ii) seasonal dependence and (iii) lack of infrastructure. The study results revealed the widespread prevalence of poverty and uncertainty among the shikhara drivers of Dal Lake. The government help, if any, has proven too little to solve their main problems.
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