Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Research in Management and Economics
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Climate Change and Informal Workers in India: An Analysis of The Demographic Factors
Asst. Prof. Shirin Rais, Prof. Mohammad Asif
ABSTRACT:
In India, the informal sector is playing an important role by serving as the backbone of the Indian economy. The informal sector known as an unorganized sector is the largest employer employing approximately seventy-five to eighty percent of the population. People working in this sector are highly exposed to climate-related concerns like heatwaves, floods, droughts, storms, forest fires, sea level rise etc and hence, a substantial portion of the population in India is at risk of extreme weather-related disasters that may lead to physical and financial losses. Furthermore, most people employed in the informal sector are deprived of the capability to afford the adaptation methods for climate change and treatments, largely due to their low per capita income. This makes them highly susceptible to the adverse implications of extreme weather events. Further, adaptation measures increase the cost of climate change and hence, reduce its applicability among the masses working in the informal sector. In this light, the present study analyzes the impact of climate change on the informal workers of the unorganized sector in India. The study found that the workers engaged in the agricultural sector are vastly exposed to the perilous consequences of climate change followed by the workers of the construction industry due to their constant exposure to the open spaces. The study suggests that in the future the vulnerability of informal workers will further intensify thereby, exposing them to a greater risk of climate change-related concerns.
keywords: adaptation; climate change; health concerns; informal workers; mitigation