Livelihood Alternatives among the Urban Poor

Abstract

Urban areas are characterised by higher population density. People are largely into non-agricultural occupations. They comprise a mixed lot of native inhabitants and migrants from near and far. The traditional family bonding is weak, and impersonal relations are prominent. Despite these, they are all engaged in productive work across various sectors. A large chunk of hardcore urbanites is engaged in industrial jobs, or as employees in commercial activities and businesses, and administrative and executive personnel. Those who fall outside this circle constitute a large number who are not equipped to become the hardcore urbanite. They are a peripheral population engaged in supportive services and are differently skilled when compared to a core urbanite. Economic pressures and the urban ecosystem force them to fit into sundry jobs. Many such opportunities emerge as livelihood alternatives. Such are the street vendors, petty shops and eateries, the self-employed and vagrant sellers.  In their hard run, they look for jobs that earn them a living, support their family and ensure their existence. The consumer demands of urbanites are met by a mushrooming number of establishments, such as hotels, cinemas, stores, and showrooms. They also employ a large workforce. All of them together co-exist in the struggle to be identified as urbanites. The attempt here is to examine some of the livelihood alternatives among those who are pressured to eke out a living yet remain identified as urbanites. Their work and livelihood are inseparable from the mainstream urban population and remain confined to it.