Sovereign Identity (DID) Architectures for Marginalized Migrant Populations: Ensuring Portability of Tribal Social Benefits

Growing up in a land defined by its paradoxical richness—where the earth holds vast mineral wealth, yet its indigenous custodians often face the harsh realities of displacement—I witnessed firsthand the fragility of identity. In Jharkhand, identity is traditionally rooted in Jal, Jungle, Jameen (Water, Forest, Land). It is tied to the village council, the oral history of the ancestors, and the collective memory of the tribe. However, I also watched what happens when the youth of our Adivasi communities are forced to migrate to the metropolises of Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru in search of livelihood. I saw how, the moment they crossed the state border, their rich social standing evaporated. A village leader or a cherished community member in Gumla or Dumka often becomes a nameless, invisible "migrant laborer" in the city, cut off from the tribal support systems that sustained them for generations. This research is my attempt to resolve that disconnect. It is a technical exploration of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), but it is fueled by a personal conviction: that technology must serve the marginalized before it serves the market. By proposing a decentralized architecture for the portability of tribal benefits, I aim to digitize the trust that exists in our village councils. The goal is to ensure that when a person leaves their Jameen, they do not have to leave their rights behind. They should carry their heritage and their privileges with them, cryptographically secured, wherever the search for a better life takes them. To the people of Jharkhand, who taught me that community is the ultimate safety net: this work is for you.