The self-employed – A study of gig workers and entrepreneurs

Introduction

The hustle economy has been defined by Thieme^[1] as

“a localized but globally resonant condition of contemporary urbanism, coupling generative possibilities that emerge from everyday experiences of uncertainty and management of insecurities associated with ‘life work’ outside the bounds of normative social institutions.

In India, the hustle economy always existed as the informal bazaar and the labor adda. In its contemporary form, it is a rapidly growing sector, which comprises the unemployed seeking work, part-time employees, gig workers, self-employed individuals, micro-franchise operators, and micro-entrepreneurs and aspirational youth pursuing their interests. The sector has become increasingly important in India’s economy, with over 80% of the country’s workforce engaged in this type of work.  This study covers all these types of participants in the hustle economy.

The Gig-Workers

Gig-workers are those who work on a temporary or flexible basis, often for multiple employers, as opposed to working full-time for a single employer. They are also commonly referred to as freelancers, independent contractors, or on-demand workers. With the rise of the gig economy, gig-workers have become an increasingly important part of the workforce, particularly in the tech industry.

According to a report by Intuit, gig-workers are expected to comprise 43% of the US workforce by 2020 (The Intuit report: Crabb, S. (2017)[2]. In India, gig-workers already make up a significant portion of the workforce, with a recent study by NASSCOM estimating that the gig economy[3] in India will be worth $455 billion by 2023, employing around 24 million workers.

Many gig-workers work with startups such as Rapido, Zomato, Urban Company, Ola, and Uber, among others. These startups have disrupted traditional industries and have provided new opportunities for individuals to earn a living. However, gig-work also comes with its own set of challenges, such as job insecurity, lack of benefits, and difficulty in building a stable career.

Therefore, understanding the experiences of gig-workers, including their motivations for entering gig-work, their working conditions, and their financial and personal well-being, is critical to ensuring the success of the gig economy and the well-being of its workers. In this study, we aim to explore these issues in-depth and provide insights into the world of gig-work with startups.

Objectives of this section

The objectives of the study, which is on Gig Workers are as follows:

1. To identify the opportunities available for gig-workers in the current market scenario.
2. To assess the challenges faced by gig-workers in their work, including financial, logistical, and legal hurdles.
3. To understand the motivations and preferences of gig-workers in terms of their work, such as job flexibility, income stability, and work-life balance.
4. To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and income of gig-workers.
5. To explore the current working conditions and work-related issues faced by gig-workers, including safety, social security, and job security.
6. To gather insights on the skills and training required by gig-workers to succeed in their work, including digital literacy and soft skills.
7. To identify the support systems available to gig-workers, such as mentorship, guidance, and financial assistance.
8. To identify the potential areas for innovation and growth in the gig economy in India.

Insights from Literature

Literature lists the following constraints usually faced by Gig-Workers:

1. Lack of job security: One of the biggest challenges faced by gig workers in India is the lack of job security. These workers are classified as independent contractors, which means they are not entitled to any benefits or protections that traditional employees receive. This makes them vulnerable to sudden changes in the market, such as reduced demand for their services or changes in company policies.For instance, in November 2021, the Delhi government banned bike taxi services offered by Rapido[4], citing safety concerns.

This decision impacted thousands of Rapido gig workers who were left without work overnight. This incident highlights the precarious nature of gig work in India, where sudden policy changes or legal challenges can impact the livelihoods of gig workers. In addition, according to a report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)[5], only 17% of gig workers in India have a written contract, which further exacerbates their vulnerability in such situations.

1. Low earnings: While gig work can provide flexible hours and the ability to work on multiple platforms, the pay can often be low. Many gig workers in India are paid on a per-ride or per-delivery basis, which means they must work long hours to earn a decent income. According to a study by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University[6], over 50% of gig workers in India earn less than Rs 14,000 ($190) per month, which is below the minimum wage[7] set by the Indian government.
2. Lack of benefits and protections: As mentioned earlier, gig workers in India are not entitled to any benefits or protections such as health insurance, pension plans, or paid leave. This lack of protections can leave them financially vulnerable in case of illness or injury and make it difficult for them to plan for their future.
3. Limited career growth opportunities: Many gig workers in India work in low-skilled jobs such as delivery and driving, which can limit their career growth opportunities. The lack of formal training and education can make it difficult for them to transition into higher-paying jobs or start their own businesses.
4. Increased competition: With the rise of gig work in India, the competition among gig workers has also increased. Platforms like Ola, Uber, Zomato, and Swiggy have many workers, which can make it difficult for individual workers to secure enough work to earn a decent income. According to a survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)[8], over 60% of gig workers in India reported facing competition from other workers on their platform.
5. Lack of social security: Another major challenge faced by gig workers in India is the lack of social security. Most gig workers are not covered by any social security schemes such as the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme[9], which provides medical benefits to formal sector employees, or the National Pension System (NPS)[10], which provides pension benefits to formal sector workers. This lack of social security can leave gig workers vulnerable to financial stocks such as illness or injury.
6. Social Stigma: Social stigma against gig workers can be a significant challenge that impacts their sense of self-worth and can lead to feelings of isolation and marginalization. This can be particularly acute in societies where formal employment is highly valued, and non-traditional work arrangements are viewed with suspicion or seen as a last resort for those who cannot find more stable work.
7. Limited access to training and skill development: Gig workers in India may not have access to formal training or skill development opportunities, which can limit their ability to take on higher-paying jobs or expand their businesses.
8. Long working hours and poor working conditions: According to a survey by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University[11], 60% of gig workers in India reported working for more than 9 hours a day, with many working 7 days a week. Additionally, gig workers often work in physically demanding jobs such as driving or delivery, which can lead to long-term health problems.
9. High loans and liabilities: According to a study by the Centre for Decent Work (CDW), many gig workers in India take loans[12] or borrow money to purchase vehicles or equipment required for their work. These loans often come with high interest rates and can lead to a cycle of debt for gig workers. In addition, gig workers are also required to pay platform fees to the companies they work for, which can further reduce their earnings.

Methodology

For this study, we followed a hybrid approach that combined both fieldwork and telephonic interviews. Initially, we met with a small group of gig workers in person, who were operating in various sectors such as ride-hailing, delivery, and freelance services, among others. During these face-to-face interviews, we collected basic demographic information about the gig workers, including their age, gender, education, and work experience. We also discussed their motivations for entering the gig economy, their experiences and challenges, and their perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of gig work.

Following these initial interviews, we asked the interviewed gig workers to refer us to other gig workers they knew, who might be interested in participating in our study. Through this snowball sampling technique, we were able to connect with many more gig workers, who we interviewed over the phone.

All the interviews were unstructured, and we did not follow a strict questionnaire. However, we did have a list of key topics and questions that we wanted to cover during the interviews. These topics included the gig workers’ work experiences, including their earnings, working conditions, job satisfaction, and work-related stress. We also asked about their use of technology, their relationship with the platform companies they worked for, and their perceptions of the future of gig work.

Overall, this methodology helped us to gather a rich and diverse set of data from gig workers and provided us with valuable insights into the experiences and challenges of this group.

Gig Work Platforms

Zomato and Swiggy, two of the most popular food delivery platforms in India, have a combined fleet of over 2.5 million delivery partners across the country, according to a report by Red Seer Management Consulting[13]. Ola and Uber, the leading ride-hailing companies in India, together have more than 2 million driver-partners in the country, as per the report by  International Transport Forum[14] Rapido, another popular ride-hailing platform that specializes in bike taxis, has over 150,000 active riders on its platform, according to the company’s website. Urban Company, a home services platform, has a network of over 35,000 trained professionals providing services in more than 20 cities across India, according to the company’s website.

All of these platforms operate on a gig work model, where workers are classified as independent contractors rather than employees. Gig workers on these platforms have the flexibility to choose their working hours and earn a variable income based on the amount of work they do. However, they are also responsible for their own expenses such as vehicle maintenance and fuel costs, and do not receive traditional employment benefits such as paid leave or ESI. The gig work model has become increasingly popular in India, with millions of people working as gig workers in various industries.

Data Summary

Table 1: Summary of the Interview Data

Table 2: List of Gig Workers interviewed 

 Findings: Major Challenges and Opportunities for Gig Workers:

 Job Security

Our study found that 8 out of 12 Zomato workers surveyed believed that their job was secure due to the growing market and increasing demand for food delivery services. However, 4 workers expressed concerns about future competition and potential decreases in earnings. On the other hand, all 5 Swiggy workers interviewed believed that the market was volatile and they could face challenges with fluctuating orders and earnings, but they were confident that the demand for delivery services would not decrease. Among the 10 Rapido riders surveyed, most of them considered the gig work as an additional source of income or a stepping stone, and did not worry much about the job security.

In contrast, all 5 Ola and Uber drivers we interviewed had taken loans for their vehicles and expressed concerns about the increasing competition and the number of vehicles/taxis on the road, which they felt was a threat to their job security. Finally, the 10 Urban Company workers we surveyed believed that the demand for quality services at affordable prices delivered at their doorstep would continue to grow, and even if the market were to decline, they felt confident that they had developed skills that could help them start their own self-employment journey or find work at other professional service companies.

Low Earnings

One of the key findings of our study is that gig workers in India often earn moderate to low incomes, particularly when compared to the long hours they put in. For example, while candidates associated with Zomato and Swiggy were able to earn an average of 800 – 1000 per day if they were logged in on the app for more than 12 hours and delivering on an average of 15 – 20 orders, those who were only logged in for 8 – 10 hours including peak hours were only able to earn an average of around 500 – 700 per day, exclusive of any fuel or vehicle rental costs.

Similarly, candidates associated with platforms like Ola and Uber were able to make around 2000 – 4000 per day, exclusive of platform fees, fuel charges, vehicle charges (EMI, rental, maintenance, etc.), but only if they were logged in for an average of 10+ hours a day. For candidates associated with Urban Company, they were able to make around 1000 – 1500 per day based on the number of hours and skill level, exclusive of platform fees, transportation, equipment, and other consumables.

Lack of benefits and protections

Lack of benefits and security: During our survey, we found that Zomato and Swiggy provide health and accidental insurance coverage for the riders worth 10 lakhs, along with OPD and loss of pay benefits. Urban Company also offers access to life and accidental insurance cover, free training, loans, and other benefits such as free vaccinations and PPE Kits. Several partners also enjoy free health insurance through the platform. However, Rapido only provides ride insurance for each ride that the rider takes with customers. On the other hand, Ola and Uber do not provide any kind of social benefits to their driver partners.

 Limited career growth opportunities

During our survey, we found that gig workers in the food delivery and ride-hailing industry reported a lack of career growth opportunities. Most of them expressed a desire to leave their gig work and start their own business or find another job that could provide better career prospects. The platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, and Uber don’t offer any visible career growth to their drivers, while Rapido drivers are only able to earn a modest income without any clear prospects for growth.

However, we did find that Urban Company offered a distinct advantage with respect to career growth opportunities for its partners. Gig workers for Urban Company can expand their service portfolios, create their own team, and even become trainers, which can ultimately lead to the development of their own businesses. Despite this opportunity, it’s clear that for many gig workers, the gig work serves only as a means to meet their immediate needs and not as a long-term career path.

 Increased Competition

During our survey, we found that 5 out of 5 Swiggy riders believe that the market is volatile and the number of delivery partners keeps fluctuating, so they don’t expect it to impact them significantly. On the other hand, 4 out of 12 Zomato riders think that with the increase in the number of delivery partners, the number of orders allocated to each partner might get affected.

The situation with Rapido, Ola, and Uber is different, as all of the respondents believe that there are more taxis or bike taxis than customers, and this increased competition has adversely affected their earnings. They get fewer rides or orders compared to before. The candidates associated with Urban Company had mixed opinions. Most of them believe that the market is so vast that any number of partners is insufficient, and the current market demand keeps them busy all the time. They also believe that delivering quality services and providing an excellent customer experience is essential for enhanced ratings and more orders.

Lack of Social Security

Our survey results highlighted a significant issue among gig workers in terms of social security. None of the gig workers interviewed had access to benefits such as Employee State Insurance (ESI) or pension schemes.

Social Stigma

In our survey, we found that most gig workers do not consider any work as small or big, and they take pride in their employment. They believe that their work provides them with financial stability, and they do not care much about societal stigma. Moreover, the majority of the respondents reported that their communities have come to accept gig work as a legitimate and respectable form of employment.

However, a few respondents shared their initial struggles with social stigma. For instance, two out of twelve Zomato workers faced teasing from their community members. Similarly, four female workers associated with Urban Company initially faced resistance from their families in visiting customers’ homes to provide services. But with time, their families and communities began to appreciate their work, and they became a source of inspiration for others.

Limited access to training and skill development

Limited access to training and skill development is a major challenge faced by most gig workers. Our survey revealed that onboarding training is provided to riders and drivers, which is mostly accessible through mobile phones. In some cases, physical training sessions are also conducted, but many participants feel that the training is inadequate and a waste of time.

On the other hand, all 10 urban company candidates we interviewed agreed that the training provided to them by the organization has enhanced the quality of their work. The training has enabled them to provide better customer service and develop soft skills, resulting in a superior customer experience.

Overall, there is a clear lack of effective training and skill development opportunities for gig workers other than few platforms like Urban Company.

Long working hours and poor working conditions

During our survey, we found that gig workers across all platforms work for an average of 10 hours a day, with some working even longer hours. During these long hours, they are constantly on the road, delivering food, dropping passengers, or providing services. The nature of their work is such that they do not get many breaks or time to rest, which can take a toll on their physical and mental health.

Additionally, the working conditions for gig workers are often poor. They are exposed to extreme weather conditions, pollution, and traffic hazards while on the job. Many of them do not have access to basic amenities such as clean water or restrooms while working. This can lead to a high level of physical and mental stress, which can affect their ability to perform their job efficiently and safely.

High loans and liabilities

During our survey, we found that a significant number of gig workers have taken loans to finance their work equipment or vehicles. Out of the 47 candidates we interviewed, 30 reported having taken out loans. This is a concerning trend as it indicates that gig workers are taking on debt to fund their work, and may be struggling to repay those loans.

In particular, we found that taxi drivers were paying a significant portion of their income towards loan repayments. This is due to the high cost of purchasing a vehicle, which many drivers finance through loans. As a result, they are left with less disposable income to cover their daily expenses, which can further exacerbate the financial challenges they face.

Inferences

1. Limited Access to Training and Skill Development: There is a significant gap in the access to training and skill development programs for gig workers. While some companies like Urban Company are providing comprehensive training programs, most gig workers are only receiving basic training that is often ineffective and not tailored to their needs. This can hinder the growth of gig workers and limit their potential to earn higher incomes.
2. Long Working Hours and Poor Working Conditions: Gig workers are often subjected to long working hours and poor working conditions, which can have adverse effects on their physical and mental health. They are continuously on the road or performing tasks for extended periods, which can lead to burnout and exhaustion. These conditions can also lead to safety risks and accidents, especially for those working in transportation.
3. High Loans and Liabilities: Many gig workers have taken out loans to finance or rented their vehicles or equipment, which can lead to high levels of debt and financial insecurity. They are often required to pay significant amounts of their income towards loan repayment, or as rental, which can limit their ability to save and invest in their careers. This can also lead to a cycle of debt that can be difficult to break out of.
4. Lack of Social Security: Gig workers are not entitled to any social security benefits like ESI or pension schemes. This lack of social security can leave them vulnerable to financial insecurity, especially in case of illness, injury, or retirement.
5. Social Stigma: While gig workers have increasingly gained acceptance as a legitimate form of work, there is still some social stigma attached to it. Many gig workers face negative comments from their communities, which affects their morale and self-esteem.
6. Increased competition: The gig workers in the Indian gig economy face increasing competition from other gig workers, which can lead to reduced earnings and job insecurity. This highlights the need for gig platforms to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace for gig workers, which can help to reduce the risk of job insecurity.

 Recommendations

1. Skill and training programs: Platforms should focus on making their training programs more effective and interactive. Feedback should be taken from gig workers to understand their training needs and recommendations should be implemented accordingly.
2. Regulatory body: The government should establish a regulatory body to provide gig workers with a safety net, such as schemes like ESI and pension. This will ensure that gig workers have access to social security benefits.
3. Encourage entrepreneurship: Platforms could encourage entrepreneurship among gig workers by providing them with the opportunity to start their own businesses or franchises. This could be achieved through low-cost loans, incubation programs, or by providing gig workers with access to mentorship and support networks.
4. Decent working conditions: Organizations should provide decent working conditions for gig workers. This includes setting up resting areas where they can rest while waiting for orders, ensuring they have enough breaks, and avoiding pressurizing them to deliver orders within unrealistic timeframes.
5. Social stigma: Organizations should work towards reducing the social stigma associated with gig work by promoting it as a legitimate and respected form of work. This can be done through awareness campaigns and by highlighting the success stories of gig workers.
6. Collaborate with local community organizations: Gig economy platforms could work with local community organizations to promote gig work as a legitimate form of work and provide support to gig workers. These organizations could also help in identifying potential gig workers and provide training and skill development opportunities.
7. Minimum wage and other conditions: Platforms should ensure that gig workers are paid a fair wage and provided with basic facilities such as insurance coverage and equipment. This will improve the quality of life for gig workers and attract more people to the sector.
8. Career growth opportunities: Aggregator platforms should provide career growth opportunities to gig workers, such as upskilling programs, promotions, and leadership roles. This will motivate gig workers to stay with the platform for longer and improve their loyalty towards the platform.
9. Provide opportunities for upskilling and reskilling: Gig platforms can provide opportunities for gig workers to upskill or reskill in order to remain relevant in the changing job market. This can include providing access to online courses or partnering with training institutions to offer training programs.
10. Promote responsible gig work: Gig platforms can promote responsible gig work by implementing policies that prioritize worker safety and well-being. This can include providing workers with safety equipment, implementing strict safety protocols, and ensuring that workers are not required to work excessive hours.
11. Provide access to affordable healthcare: Gig workers often lack access to affordable healthcare. Gig platforms can partner with healthcare providers to offer affordable healthcare plans to gig workers. This can help to reduce the financial burden of healthcare expenses on gig workers.

Objective of the Survey of Entrepreneurs

1. The present study has been carried out with the following objectives:
   To study and analyze the socio-economic background of the Micro and small entrepreneurs associated with Sahulat/Khidmat.
2. To understand the skill levels and motivation factors of the entrepreneurs in their activity area.
3. To analyze the exposure and need of a skilling/training program in the areas of:

1. 1. Business Skills
   2. Financial/ Accounting Skills
   3. Exposure of Govt. related schemes
   4. Digital Skills required to run business

Scope of the Survey

The survey focuses on the micro & small entrepreneurs associated with Sahulat.The selected entrepreneurs include a mix of Loan takers and Savings Account holders.

Sampling Design

Entrepreneurs involved in this study are mostly the members of Sahulat/Kidmat. As the area of study is limited to Sangareddy and Medak districts our sample size is restricted to 33 respondents over a period of 4 days. The respondents have been identified prior by Sahulat based on the size of the business and a mix of both loan takers and savings account holders.

Tools of Analysis

Personal interview/Conversation is the major tool of data collection. The interviews conducted are entirely unstructured. The structure of questions asked covers broadly the following:

To understand the age and nature of their business.

1. To understand how the business practices have changed over time and its impact on their line of business.
2. Current Sales Channels, willingness to explore new sales channels
3. Efficient Business Practices like Bookkeeping, Procurement and Inventory management, Sales Record etc.
4. Innovation in their existing systems, and willingness to experiment in their existing business systems
5. Opportunities or Gaps for enhancing sales / customer base
6. Skill level and their willingness to learn new skills
7. Opportunities to increase their product offerings
8. Digital literacy

Out of the 33 Entrepreneurs we met, 1 of them is a  woman.

Age Group of the Sample size: 20 years to 55 years

Revenue bracket of the Entrepreneurs: INR 1500/day to INR 20,000/day

Table 1: List of Entrepreneurs met in each of the location

Sangareddy:

Table 2: List of Revenue of the Entrepreneurs in Sangareddy

Zaheerabad:

Table 3: List of Revenue of the Entrepreneurs in Zaheerabad

Sadashivpet:

Table 4: List of Revenue of the Entrepreneurs in Sadashivpet

Medak:

Table 5: List of Revenue of the Entrepreneurs in Medak

Inferences

1. Business Skills:
   1. The entrepreneurs are well aware of the customer needs, and most of them have a strong customer base in their area.
2. They keep experimenting with new products based on the latest market trends and customer feedback / demand.
3. Most of the entrepreneurs still follow the traditional way of procurement i.e going to the traders / wholesalers / manufacturers and buying the stock, whereas few of the entrepreneurs are actively using Ajio and similar platforms to order garment stock for their business.
4. Two out of 33 Entrepreneurs have started using Whatsapp for sharing about the latest stock especially for Ladies Garments that helps them in getting more customers while the others believe that it is a time consuming process and they have to dedicate an entire day.
5. Entrepreneurs use Youtube and Facebook to follow the latest trends and updates in their industry while the entrepreneurs don’t share their product videos and images on any of the social media platforms.
6. Not many entrepreneurs are utilizing their resources efficiently as most of them are expanding horizontally in a defined geography. We have met Mr. Wasim in Zaheerabad, who has opened 2 Fancy stores and 3 shops of women’s garments & sarees in the same street, believes that by doing this he could return the customer who walks into either of his stores.

We have rarely seen any entrepreneur following Standard Book Keeping and Stock managing practices that makes it really hard for them to understand exact profit and loss for them. The entrepreneurs follow their intuition to order the stock and believe that stock taking on a monthly basis is very time consuming and nothing beneficial comes out of it.
Datta, an entrepreneur in Sangareddy mentions that he has a billing system installed in his store, but it becomes difficult to handle the software. He believes that making a record of everyday sales is easier to understand the sales he made and order stock based on the sales.

2. Skills Related To their chosen activities
   1. Most of the entrepreneurs have over 15 years of experience in their trade that has helped them gain skills over a period of time.
   2. Bike Mechanic and Electronics repair guys keep getting skill training time to time from the Automotive and Mobile brands respectively.

Kifayat Ali from sadasivpet receives training from TATA and he is also referred to new customers through TATA from servicing 15km in and around sadasivpet.

1. Few entrepreneurs make use of Youtube if they need to know more about something that they don’t know, sometimes they get the desired answers, sometimes they have to consult someone from the market. Afzal khan, an entrepreneur has gained industry knowledge by following the videos on youtube. He has learnt to repair mobile phones using youtube. He says, we have no specific training programs that can train and guide us with industry knowledge, we have to rely on youtube to do so.
2. None of the entrepreneurs have taken benefit of any government scheme as they have very little awareness about it and they don’t have time for that.
3. Others
   1. Not many entrepreneurs have availed GST, as they believe that having GST is an additional burden on them.
   2. They want to use social media for promoting their services but either they think that it will consume all of their time or they don’t have any idea about how they can use it to promote their business. Salauddin, an entrepreneur from sadasivpet has been trying to promote his products using social media and other online platforms but he is unable to do so as he is not aware of the nuances of digital platforms, nor he knows anyone who can guide him
   3. Few of the entrepreneurs want to grow their product line / services but don’t have enough funds and hence they are requesting Khidmat bank to increase the loan amount. Kifayat Ali wants to take agency of exide, which will help him to boost his sales, but he doesn’t have enough funds to take that agency so he is waiting to manage the funds for taking the agency.
   4. We have noticed that many entrepreneurs have reached their human potential, they are not willing to expand their business, they believe that more employees means less or no profits.

 Suggestions

1. Most of the entrepreneurs are of the opinion that the traditional way of doing business i.e., through a shop is the best way to make money.
   We believe that with ecommerce, digital media and digital technologies evolving and taking over all kinds of business systems, these entrepreneurs should adapt based on the needs of the world. 

   Most of the entrepreneurs have reached their human potential and believe that expanding their business would eventually lead to loss/no/meager profits.
   We understand that the entrepreneurs still lack business acumen & team management/operational skills and that has to be imparted.Many of them want to explore the online mode of business but are not aware of the ecosystem. A training program would help them to eventually expand their avenues.
   We believe that Tribe can provide a tailored digital training program that can be a end-to-end guide for providing the entrepreneurs with knowledge required to explore the digital platforms

   Most of the entrepreneurs believe that selling online/ through digital platforms would consume their whole day. We clearly understand the entrepreneurs lack of awareness about how to manage sales using online/digital platforms.

   There are few entrepreneurs who are not aware of standard business practices like how to display their products in their store which is not allowing them to grow. We have met one entrepreneur in Zaheerabad who is a hosiery manufacturer who also sources from ajio to sell in his store. When asked about why he is not able to sell in the similar way, he says that he is unable to get enrolled on the platform. We also have noticed that most of the stock he has in his store is packed in the boxes and kept instead of displaying, while the stock he puts up for display sells really fast.

   Skill, knowledge and adaptability in business are the main reasons for growth & sustenance in the business. Most of the entrepreneurs lack adaptability to time, and few of them lack skills.

Most of the entrepreneurs find procurement very time consuming and not very cost-efficient as they have to procure every 15-20days.

^[1] Thieme, Tatiana Adeline (2017)  The hustle economy: Informality, uncertainty and the geographies of getting https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/people/academic-staff/tatiana-thieme/ThiemeTheHustleEconomyPinHG2017.pdf (Thieme)

[2] Rapido Ban: How the Delhi government’s move to ban bike taxis will impact gig workers.” https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/rapido-ban-how-the-delhi-governments-move-to-ban-bike-taxis-will-impact-gig-workers/story/473974.html

[3] Rapido Ban: How the Delhi government’s move to ban bike taxis will impact gig workers.” https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/rapido-ban-how-the-delhi-governments-move-to-ban-bike-taxis-will-impact-gig-workers/story/473974.html

[4] Rapido Ban: How the Delhi government’s move to ban bike taxis will impact gig workers.” https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/rapido-ban-how-the-delhi-governments-move-to-ban-bike-taxis-will-impact-gig-workers/story/473974.html

[5] National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report on gig workers in India: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/only-17-of-gig-economy-workers-have-written-contracts-shows-nssos-2018-survey-1568310748047.html

[6] Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University study on gig worker earnings: https://www.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/sites/default/files/2020-10/Gig%20Work%20in%20India.pdf

[7] Indian government minimum wage: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1512772

[8] Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) survey on competition among gig workers: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333604511_Gig_Workers_in_India_Empirical_Evidence_and_Implications

[9] Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme: https://www.esic.nic.in/

[10] National Pension System (NPS): https://www.npscra.nsdl.co.in/

[11] Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University. (2019). State of Working India 2019 Report. Retrieved from https://cse.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/state-of-working-india/swi-2019/

[12] source: https://www.indiaspend.com/loans-gone-bad-pose-threat-to-indias-shadow-banking-system/amp/

[13]Redseer source: https://www.indiaspend.com/loans-gone-bad-pose-threat-to-indias-shadow-banking-system/amp/

[14] Number of fatalities in 2020 key transport statistics (no date). Available at: https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/key-transport-statistics-2021.pdf (Accessed: March 24, 2023).