Migrant Informal Workers: A Study of Delhi and Satellite Towns

Ram Singh Bora

Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, India.

DOI: 10.4236/me.2014.55053                

Abstract

In India, the activities of the secondary and tertiary sectors are concentrated mostly in large towns and cities, and attract internal migration. Workers’ participation has led to spectacular growth in the economy during the past two decades. By analysing data collected from slum households in three states, i.e. the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, and in two towns of the National Capital Region (NCR) of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states in India, this paper seeks to assess if this growth has improved workers’ employment conditions. The finding reveals that the workers are employed in low-productivity jobs with low incomes and wages; they work without job safety, medical health and social security provisions. All these deteriorate both living and working conditions of the workers. In spite of their working and living in one of the most developed parts of the country they live economically marginalized and neglected life.

Keywords

Rural-Urban Migration, Destinations, Informal Worker, Slum Dwellers, Migrant Workers, Socially Disadvantaged Groups, Below Poverty Line and above Poverty Line Income Groups

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Bhagat, R.B. (2009) Internal Migration in India: Are the Underclass More Mobile? 26th IUSSP General Population Conference, Marrakech, 27 September-2 October 2009.
[2]	Bora, R.S. (1996) Himalayan Migration—A Study of the Hill Region of Uttar Pradesh. Sage, Delhi.
[3]	Rao, C.H.H. (2011) India and China: A Comparison of the Role of Sociopolitical Factors in Inclusive Growth. Economic and Political Weekly, 66, 24-28.
[4]	de Haan, A. and Rogaly, B. (2002) Migrant Workers and Their Role in Rural Change. Journal of Development Studies, 38, 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220380412331322481
[5]	Mitra, A. (2003) Occupational Choices, Networks, and Transfer: An Exegesis Based on Micro Data from Delhi Slums. Manohar, Delhi.
[6]	Reserve Bank of India (2011) Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy 2010-11.
[7]	Census of India (2001) Cities, Towns, and Urban Agglomerations.
[8]	Census of India (2011) Provisional Population Total, Rural Urban Distribution Paper 2, Vol. 1 of 2011.
[9]	Bhagat, R.B. (2011) Emerging Patterns of Urbanization in India. Economic and Political Weekly, 46, 10-12.
[10]	Kundu, A. (2011) Method in Madness: Urban Data from 2011 Census. Economic and Political Weekly, 46, 13-16.
[11]	National Sample Survey Organisation, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India (2002) Unorganised Manufacturing Sector in India 2000-2001; Employment, Assets, and Borrowings; NSS Round 56, Report No. 479 (56/2.2/3), New Delhi.
[12]	National Sample Survey Organisation, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India (2006) Employment and Unemployment Situation in India 2004-2005 (Part 1); NSS Round 61, Report No. 515-I and II (61/10/1 & 2), Delhi.
[13]	Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and International Institute of Population Sciences (2007) National Family Health Survey 3 (2005-06). Volume II, Mumbai.
[14]	Varshney, A. (1997) Postmodernism, Civil Engagement, and Ethnic Conflict: A Passage to India. Comparative Politics, 30, 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/422190
[15]	Bora, R.S. and Tyagi, R.P. (2012) Migrant Workers in the Informal Sector: A Study of Conditions of Work, Health Status and Social Security. Study Submitted to the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Delhi.
[16]	Oberai, A.S. and Singh, H.K.M. (1983) Causes and Consequences of Internal Migration—A Study in the Indian Punjab. Oxford University Press, Delhi.
[17]	Findley, S.A. (1997) Migration and Family Interactions in Africa. In: Adepoju, A., Ed., Family, Population and Development in Africa, Zed Books, London.
[18]	National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (2007) Report Bill.
[19]	Banarjee, N. and Nihila, M. (1999) Business Organization in Leather Industries of Calcutta and Chennai. In: Bagchi, A.K., Ed., Economy and Organisation: Indian Industries under the Neoliberal Regime, Sage Publications, New Delhi.
[20]	Nihila (2002) Growing Industries, Sick Workers: A Study of Leather Tanning Industry of Dindigul from an Occupational Health Perspective. Review of Development and Change, 7, 134-166.
[21]	National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (2007) Report on Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganised Sector.