This research project will examine these momo economies by documenting the role and participation of Tibetan and Nepali migrants in the informal food economies of momo production, distribution, and retailing in India’s capital city. My preliminary desktop-centred research has confirmed that the refugee/migrant momo food economy is diversified both geographically and in terms of its operations. The distinctive arrangements and contours of the momo food-work operations in this city, organised by these two migrant communities, will be studied using these research sub-themes:
- Organization of various momo enterprises including operation history, sources of raw materials, geographical locations of production, workers, and clientele.
- Organization of informal momo production units, including production/manufacturing spaces, production scale and businesses to whom they supply, migrants’ business networks, production workers and their recruitment.
- Socioeconomic background of refugee/migrant respondents (education, previous work history including momo-related production and operation work).
- Gendered division of labour: participation of women in these momo economies as entrepreneurs and workers; impacts on their unpaid food-work and other domestic responsibilities.
- Impacts of momo food-work on household food security of migrant and refugee operators and workers.
- Challenges and hurdles: institutional barriers, legal requirements (e.g., licenses for operating stalls or businesses), negative attitudes and behavior of state authorities and residents, conflicts with other businesses, requirements for official documents like Aadhaar, xenophobia and gastro-racism.
- Migration histories of momo entrepreneurs and their migrant/refugee workers, such as length of stay in India and legal status (refugee certificates and citizenship standing).
- Migrant/refugee social networks and their role in the momo economies.
- Connections of migrant/refugee participants with country of origin (family members left behind), patterns of visits/returns, and remitting patterns.