ISSUES OF INFORMAL SECTOR AND URBAN POVERTY IN INDIA: CRITICAL INSIGHTS FROM ALLAHABAD CITY (U.P.)

Urban poverty poses the problems of housing and shelter, water, sanitation, health, education, social security and livelihoods along with special needs of vulnerable groups like women, children and aged people. Poor people live in slums which are overcrowded, often polluted and lack basic civic amenities like clean drinking water, sanitation and health facilities. There has been an upsurge of interest in micro-level studies on the urban informal sector in recent years. Keeping in view the broader problems analyzed from the Indian society especially Allahabad city of U.P. state regarding various aspects of living for the informal sector workers, following suggestions needs urgent attention, Urban health should be taken up in mission mode, much on lines of the NRHM, to facilitate programmatic focus, resource commitment and accountability for effectively addressing the health needs of the urban population, The states should incorporate initiatives for urban health needs in their Programme Implementation Plan. Need to convert the vast pool of human resources in informal sector into productive assets in such a manner that they become ultimately wealth creators and job providers instead of mere survivors or job seekers through promoting micro and small business entrepreneurship.