Marginalization to Citizenship: Marginalization and Strategies of Responses of Urban Poor Youth in Salem, India

Marginalization of the urban poor who live in the slums of the heart of the cities is an undeniable reality of urbanization. Young people are likely to be most affected. Marginalization is seen here as that which denies citizenship rights of the urban poor youth, affecting their life, well being and development. In Indian context the research reveals that besides the deprivations due to poverty, caste discrimination, adult and male dominations have further aggravated the marginalization of the urban poor youth. The impact of marginalization is observed in the education, employment, socialization and recreation, participation in the civil society, political participation, marriage and family life. Comparatively the young women are more affected by marginalization than young men. Youth agency, motivated by a need for self respect is recognized in the different strategies of responses of the urban poor youth against the forces of marginalization. It is observed that the urban poor youth are resilient in responding to marginalization, of which some are direct and open and others indirect and informal. While the roles played by the NGO and other political and civil society organizations, as facilitators to enable the urban poor youth in achieving citizenship rights are recognized, the role of the state seem to be absent.