Urban Growth and Invisible Workers: The Reality of Informal Labour in Guwahati, Assam

Author(s)	Darathi Kalita, S.T Akilan
Country	India
Abstract	The urban expansion in Guwahati, has been increasingly driven by the growth of commercial areas, infrastructure and service oriented economies. At the core of this apparent urban change lies a substantial informal labour force that is essential for maintaining the functioning and development of the city. Construction workers, street vendors, sanitation workers and other daily wage earners plays an important role in urban economic growth, yet they face persistent challenges. This paper provides a critical analysis of the relationship between urbanization and informal labor in Guwahati, Assam, focusing on the extent to which urban economic growth relies on inexpensive and adaptable labor. Drawing on qualitative interviews, field observations and secondary sources, the study explored the lived experiences of informal workers and the challenges they face in everyday lives. The paper contends that although informal workers are vital to the development and sustainability of urban economies, they often remain overlooked in prevailing development narratives and highlights how ineffective welfare policies and increasing urban inequalities perpetuate the marginalization of these workers who are essential to the progress of modern urban Assam.
Keywords	Keywords Informal labour, marginalization, urban economy, urbanization, welfare policies
Field	Sociology
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-07-12

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