Geography of Informal Trade, Commodity Flows and Livelihoods in Indo-Nepal Border (A case of Dhulabari, Bagdogra and Siliguri Corridor)

Abstract

<p><em>Informal trade is a common phenomenon across the borders whether it is Indo-Nepal or Indo-Bangladesh border. It is often said that people have not crossed borders rather it is the boundaries created such a divide among the communities across geographic space. People are living in harmony since time immemorial and long distance trade links were established during mercantilist era in the evolution of world economic system. At times modern states are in conflict to materialize the terms of trade and their bi-lateral and multi-lateral relations. But at local level communities and micro-geographic regions are continuously interacting and perennially functionally interdependent and derive livelihood opportunities given their constraints and policies imposed from above (State). The present research captures the local level narratives, interactions and levels of their spatial interactions and terms of trade along the Dhulabari-Bagdogra-Siliguri Corridor of Indo-Nepal border. This corridor is strategically important and connecting the Asian Highway network in South Asian Countries to India&rsquo;s north East. The methods of enquiry applied here is in-depth interviews, FGDs and schedule survey at various locations along the corridor. Secondary data collected from local Customs Office, Auto-rickshaw, Bus Owners and Truck-Owners Associations. The target group consists shop-owners, commodity carriers, rickshaw pullers, auto-drivers, security personnel both-side (India and Nepal) of the check-post etc. &nbsp;The study unfolds the commodity movement along the border and identification of various informal channels, livelihoods associated of local people at above locations, mobility of people and commodity carriers, levels of infrastructure at border points at Panitanki (India) and Kakarvitta (Nepal), transaction mechanisms, levels of earning at different user groups etc. and seeks to answer the question of livelihood securities.</em></p>

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