Some recent reports of the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, set up as an independent commission by the Government of India, are relevant to the workshop topics. These reports combine detailed empirical and policy analytical work on the informal economy with specific recommendations for the government. They cover gender issues very comprehensively but are not confined to these alone as they focus more generally on the informal economy.

These reports are available on the NCEUS website viz.

http://nceus.gov.in/

Three of the Commission's reports are particularly relevant to the topic of the workshop (though others may also be of interest):

1.  Report on the Conditions of Work and Promotion of livelihoods in
the Unorganised Sector

(http://nceus.gov.in/Condition_of_workers_sep_2007.pdf)

This carries a conceptual framework on estimating employment in the
informal economy and informal employment (including agriculture) and
detailed empirical analysis (integrating the gender dimension in each
chapter) and recommendations. The recommendations on protective social security cover women and men workers and have been partially accepted by
government and incorporated in an important national legislation.

2. A note on the Financial Crisis and its Implications for the
Informal Economy in India.

(http://nceus.gov.in/Global_Economic_crisis.pdf)

This includes suggestions on what needs to be done to protect the informal economy.

3. A Report on a Proposal on a Special Programme for Marginal and Small farmers

(http://nceus.gov.in/Special_Programme_for_Marginal_and_Small_Farmers.pdf)

This report analyses the issues facing small holder agriculture in
India (including its gender dimensions) and specific proposals for
development of this sector.