Counting the Invisible Working Hands in India - By Dr. M. Balaji, IAS

This write-up enquires into the problem faced by migrant labourers in the informal sector in India. It argues for the registration and tracking of migrants, particularly interstate migrants, as they constitute a significant proportion of the labour force. The mobility of labourers is the natural mechanism for infusing inclusive and faster growth across the globe, and tracking the poor migrants would lead to investment in human and social capital, paving the way for integrating poverty alleviation policies and development strategies for overall better outcomes.

Introduction

• Migrant workers in the informal sector in India have long been exposed to stretched working ....