PhD defence J.L. (Jaffer) Najar

Brief summary of the doctoral thesis:

This dissertation critically examines existing anti-trafficking governance and practices in India. Contrary to current policy in India, it prioritises the position, experiences, demands, and agency of marginalized individuals and communities who are targeted by anti-trafficking interventions. Much focus of public and scholarly debate around anti-trafficking governance is on sex work. In contrast, participants in this study work in the sex and construction industries. This addresses research gaps, enables a comparative analysis, and ultimately seeks to contribute to greater epistemic, and social justice for people and communities who are overwhelmed or marginalised in the course of anti-trafficking interventions.

This dissertation looks into the role of intersecting social, political and economic power relations- in anti-trafficking governance in India. It employs a feminist research methodology to study the following research questions: 

1. How have historical, social, political and economic factors shaped anti-trafficking governance in India? 
2. How do urban subalterns in India experience, understand, and respond to contemporary anti-trafficking governance?