Skip To Content
Research Reports

Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India

By on April 01, 2014

Waste pickers, like other informal workers, make important contributions to their cities. The Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) is evaluating the realities that informal workers face, the forces that affect them, and their contributions to the urban economy. In Pune, India, 73 waste pickers participated in focus group discussions and a survey was administered to 150 waste pickers. This executive summary provides summary findings and policy recommendations on waste pickers in the city of Pune.

Read the Full City Report (English) | Executive Summary (English)

Sumário Executivo (português) | Resumen Ejecutivo (español)


The Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) is designed to provide credible, grounded evidence of the range of driving forces, both positive and negative, that affect conditions of work in the urban informal economy in 10 cities over time. Specifically, it examines how informal workers are affected by, and respond to, macroeconomic trends, urban policies and practices, value chain dynamics, and other economic and social forces. Learn more about the Informal Economy Monitoring Study.

View list of all: Research Reports

Download the PDF(this link opens in new window)

Citation Information

Chikarmane, Poornima. Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India. , , . WIEGO, 2014. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdfChikarmane, P. (2014). Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India. , , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdfChikarmane, Poornima. "Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India." WIEGO, 2014, .Chikarmane Poornima. "Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India." (2014). https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdfChikarmane, P 2014, 'Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India', , , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdfPoornima Chikarmane, 'Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India' (2014). Chikarmane P. Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India. . 2014. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdfChikarmane, Poornima. Executive Summary – Informal Economy Monitoring Study: Waste Pickers in Pune, India. . 2014. , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IEMS-Pune-WP-Executive-Summary.pdf

The WIEGO Research Library

WIEGO is at the forefront of developing statistics and research to help audiences understand the informal economy. Our library includes over two decades-worth of informal economy research, policy analysis, statistics and documentation of organizing efforts.