ABSTRACT
Registration of informal workers for social protection has increased but the nature of opportunities continues to be informal and insecure. Wages left completely to market forces, given the large supply and limited opportunities, tends to be lower than what would sustain a basic level of well-being. The lives of the urban poor have been most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Loss of jobs and incomes has driven many households to either move back to their villages or withdraw their children from private schools. That over half of India will be urban very soon is known to all. The Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission was launched in December 2005 as an over Rs 1 lakh crore, seven-year Mission with the objective of reforms-driven fast track development of cities across the country, with focus on efficiency in urban infrastructure, service delivery mechanism, community participation and accountability of Urban Local Bodies and parastatal agencies towards citizens.
