Notes: Informal Sector | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
C 3 
Informal Sector 
 
J. Keith Hart (Anthropologist) -> Working in Accra, Ghana, coined. 
 
Features – 
1.       Low skill 
2.       Low wages 
3.       Migratory 
4.  Low entry barriers 
Informal Sector-> 
1.       Guardian to Poor 
2.       Provides employment 
3.       Provides uniform lifestyle 
 
Naila Kabeer -> Informal sector not peculiar to developing countries. Vendors seen 
in New York, London. 
Indian Informal Sector : 
1.       Agriculture (Maximum) 
2.       Self Employed (vendors, small shops) 
3.       Contract Laborers 
4.       Household Laborers (mostly women) 
5.       Child labor (UNICEF -> Scorer in India) 
[If No DOL -> Informal.  
If beyond government’s reguln. -> Unorganised] 
 
Globalization & Informal Sector 
Sarath Dawala Report 
In India -> 1991 -> 91% Is  
2005 -> 94%  
2014 -> 96%  
 
Reasons why globalization is increasing Informal Sector are -  
1.       Increase in contract Labour. 
2.       Downsizing in Organised Industries  (Railways, PSUs) 
Bhowmik & SEWA -> These People found jobs in Informal Sector. 
3. Lifestyle & Inflation made women work and most of them are 
concentrated in Informal Sector 
4.          Increase in MSMEs. 
Page 2


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
C 3 
Informal Sector 
 
J. Keith Hart (Anthropologist) -> Working in Accra, Ghana, coined. 
 
Features – 
1.       Low skill 
2.       Low wages 
3.       Migratory 
4.  Low entry barriers 
Informal Sector-> 
1.       Guardian to Poor 
2.       Provides employment 
3.       Provides uniform lifestyle 
 
Naila Kabeer -> Informal sector not peculiar to developing countries. Vendors seen 
in New York, London. 
Indian Informal Sector : 
1.       Agriculture (Maximum) 
2.       Self Employed (vendors, small shops) 
3.       Contract Laborers 
4.       Household Laborers (mostly women) 
5.       Child labor (UNICEF -> Scorer in India) 
[If No DOL -> Informal.  
If beyond government’s reguln. -> Unorganised] 
 
Globalization & Informal Sector 
Sarath Dawala Report 
In India -> 1991 -> 91% Is  
2005 -> 94%  
2014 -> 96%  
 
Reasons why globalization is increasing Informal Sector are -  
1.       Increase in contract Labour. 
2.       Downsizing in Organised Industries  (Railways, PSUs) 
Bhowmik & SEWA -> These People found jobs in Informal Sector. 
3. Lifestyle & Inflation made women work and most of them are 
concentrated in Informal Sector 
4.          Increase in MSMEs. 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Ela Bhatt (SEWA):  
Sees positive of Globalisation -> women getting jobs, becoming decision makers, will 
attack Patriarchy, women given education now. 
Therefore, Feminization of Labour happening. 
 
Also : ->  
Strect vendor’s rights now debated and being legislated.  
Insurance (Pension + APY) facilities. Health facilities for unorganized. (Swasth Bima 
Yojana)