Informality, Exclusion and Social Protection: Field Evidence from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan

The article examines multiple dimensions of vulnerability among informal labourers in India and critically evaluates existing social protection systems. Drawing on fieldwork conducted across five districts in Uttar Pradesh and two in Rajasthan, the study unravels issues such as unstable employment, delayed payments, digital divides and caste–gender hierarchies shaping the lives of this workforce. Initiatives such as MGNREGA, e-SHRAM, Ayushman Bharat and building and other construction workers welfare boards are assessed for their delivery effectiveness. A comparison between Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan highlights the crucial role of civil society organizations in entitlement delivery and enhancing institutional accountability. Based on empirical evidence and supplementary sources, the article argues for abandoning fragmented technocratic approaches in favour of a universal social protection model grounded in a rights-based framework that better responds to local needs. Policy recommendations focus on addressing structural marginalization among informal workers.