Communities
92% of India’s workforce (accounting for 63% of India’s GDP) is in the unorganised segment. The entire farm sector falls under the informal category; only one-fifth of non-farm workers are in the organised segment. These communities receive an inadequate share of the value they help create.
BI focuses on the livelihoods of 10 large communities and catalyses enterprise creation and employment generation, setting in process their self-reliant evolution.
Small, Large & Marginal Farmers:They account for 99 million agricultural holdings in India. They also represent more than 80% of total farm households. They are India’s Small and Marginal Farmers.
Artisans & Weavers:India’s handloom and handicrafts, ranging from the simple to the exquisite, are creations of 43.32 lakh weavers/workers and 68.86 lakh crafts persons respectively.
Livestock Holders:Livestock holders and fisherfolk are two of India’s largest producer communities, after agriculture and handloom. They have made India among the world’s leading producers.
Forest Produce Gatherers:275 million people depend on NTFP (Non-Timber Forest Produce), among India’s largest unorganized sectors with a turnover of over Rs.6000 crores annually.
Wage Labour, Including Migrant:92% of India’s workforce is in the unorganised sector. More than half of the unorganised workforce find employment in agriculture. Social security and welfare are key issues.
Urban Marginalised:Almost 27% of India’s workforce is urban. In a highly informal workforce (92%), the urban marginalized are a community that calls for solutions to transform livelihoods.
Micro & Small Entrepreneurs:Inspite of challenges, India’s MSMEs employ nearly 70 million people, account for 45 per cent of industrial output and have a growing contribution to the GDP.
Disaster Prone Communities:India is among the world’s most disaster-prone areas, with cyclones, floods, earthquakes, droughts and landslides affecting livelihoods significantly.
Internally Displaced Communities:Development, disasters and internal conflicts have displaced millions of Indians, resulting in a livelihood crisis that demands solutions.
Other Vulnerable Communities:The marginalized communities we focus on are some of the most vulnerable. Going beyond, Basal Initiatives has identified other communities that tend to be vulnerable yet invisible.
