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Urban Poverty Survey to Focus on Gig Workers
Context:
- The Union government, along with civic bodies, is set to launch a door-to-door survey starting 1 October 2024, aimed at identifying vulnerable low-income households in urban areas.
- This survey will specifically target six groups, including gig workers and domestic staff, as part of a pilot initiative for a new urban poverty alleviation program.
Key Aspects of the Survey
Target Groups:
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- Gig workers
- Domestic workers
- Construction workers
- Waste workers
- Care workers
- Transportation workers
Survey Locations:
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- 25 cities across India including Kolkata, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Agra, Indore, and Varanasi.
- At least one city from each state/UT, except those with upcoming elections.
Objective:
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- Identify vulnerability to urban poverty among low-income households.
- Profile beneficiaries for central and state social security schemes like government insurance cover.
Urban Poverty Data:
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- Urban poverty rate decreased from 13.7% in 2012 to 12.55% in 2022 (India Employment Report 2024).
- Despite improvement in percentage, urbanisation has increased the absolute number of urban poor.
Pilot Project Details:
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- Part of a broader initiative for a revamped urban livelihoods mission.
- ₹180 crore funding for the three-month pilot project.
- Learnings will be used to formulate a new scheme to replace the Deendayal Antyoday Yojana-National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM).
Enhancements in Existing Schemes:
- Focus on skilling and microcredit aspects of the current programs.
Conclusion:
This survey marks a critical step towards improving urban poverty alleviation strategies by focusing on gig and informal workers. The insights gained will help refine government schemes to better address the needs of vulnerable urban populations.
