Background

80% of India’s workforce is employed in the informal economy of the country. The informal sector in India is characterized by low wages, unstable employment opportunities, a lack of social and legal support, and gender-based discrimination. These challenges make it extremely difficult for informal workers to integrate into their communities. Language and cultural barriers prevent them from assimilating into their new society, leaving them without support and resources to rely on. Furthermore, living in a large city can be extremely financially tricky, with workers living paycheck to paycheck.

These social and economic barriers, paired with a lack of knowledge and information about their rights and entitlements, leave workers in the informal sector vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, exploitation, and more. The informal sector, notorious for not having proper redress mechanisms in place, provides aggrieved workers with no means to improve their economic and social situation, causing them to accept their circumstances or, worse, take drastic measures to end their suffering.

These socioeconomic challenges can severely diminish the quality of life of informal workers, not to mention cause numerous financial burdens. Access4Aid was created to address these issues in informal worker communities in rural areas in India through a multifaceted approach that provides resources and support to this population and enhances their personal and professional lives through proper knowledge of their rights.