My project is about Indo-Surinamese group in the Netherlands, who migrated from Suriname to the Netherlands in late 19070s. Today they form one of the four biggest ethnic minority groups in the country. Indo-Surinamese have descended from the Indian contractual labourers who had migrated to Suriname in the 19th century. The group is several generations removed from its immigrant origins in India, but its members lead a lifestyle that is mostly rooted in Indian cultural beliefs and its members trace their roots to India and Suriname both. This community has an increased sense of belonging to an ethnic group, yet this does not constrain their cultural adaptation to the host society. This group has deployed unique cultural resources to establish its distinct identity, and my present project is an attempt to explore such resources in the context of organization of their family lives. In the context of family relations and structures, the Indian diaspora show a sense of filial piety regardless of the country of emigration but their perspectives and experiences have been found to be different.
For the present study, I will use a qualitative approach to study their support practices, as support is central to understanding family lives and social ties. My project is a step in the direction of understanding Indo-Surinamese groups’ support structures that has bearing upon old age security system for older adults. Given that the Dutch population of older people is ethnically diverse, it is important to be attentive to their special needs thus my findings will have policy and practice implications.