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The issue of unemployment has been a significant interplay amidst the political narratives as observed in the general election 2024. ‘Informal workers on streets’ is a close interpretation of the dismal state of affairs of unorganised labour force in India. Also, this somehow reflects and underlines few grey patches in State’s systemic response. States largely stayed un-attentive to an apparent yet miniscule issue of informal workers denied from a host of constitutional promises. Such might have happened primarily due to narrow governing psyche of urban local bodies. Labour adda, an unregulated location where informal workers assemble everyday morning looking for work for that specific day, is a routine feature of our urban ecosystem today. Unconfirmed estimations suggest; alone in Uttar Pradesh’s 17 municipal corporations,

The lack of attention to the issues and difficulties of informal workers in labour addas is a concern that requires urgent, statutory and compassionate action from the state and local governments. These workers, who contribute significantly to the urban economy, fuel local & rural economy by their spendings, often face challenges like lack of job security, low & curtailed wages, and no access to social security coverage.

To address this problem, it is crucial for the state and local governments to adopt an approach that includes all, registers concerns, however diverse. This must include recognizing the importance of informal workers and ensuring that they have access to basic rights and entitlements. The state should work towards assisting, skilling of the segment and thereby facilitate linking/ access to premium job/ labour markets.

The issue of informal workers on streets reflects the larger problem of unemployment and the lack of attention to the needs of the unorganized labour force in India. It is time for the state & local governments to take concrete steps to address delivery of entitled public good for the segment, amend and align public policies for working class.