Understanding the Financial Behaviour of Migrating Badaga Community

Since the past few years, many tribal communities have been migrating to India. One of the communities is the Badaga community, which originated in Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. This study aims to understand the financial factors that are driving migration among the Badaga community and to understand how one can develop targeted interventions to improve the community’s well-being. A quantitative survey was conducted with 50 participants originating from various villages in the Nilgiri Hills, now mostly residing outside the Nilgiri Hills. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65 years and represented a broad spectrum of socio-economic statuses. Data was collected using a structured survey distributed via Google Forms and through in-person interviews utilizing a snowball sampling technique. The study found that financial stability, educational opportunities, and employment prospects are the primary drivers of migration. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in educational attainment and a shift from agricultural to salaried income. It can be used to address the specific needs of the Badaga community that was studied in this research.