Rural-Urban Migration and Urban Livelihoods in India

This article looks at the nature and patterns of urban livelihoods in India, with a focus on low-skilled migrant workers engaged in the informal sector. It places urban livelihoods in the broader context of structural transformation and livelihood change in India and shows that even though migrant workers contribute significantly to country’s increasingly urban-centric economy, they remain ignored in policymaking. The paper analyses the reasons for this disregard and argues for the need to integrate low-skilled migrant workers in India’s urban policy to promote inclusive and sustainable development.