Paradoxes and the unorganised sector

A paradox is something that seems to contradict itself, yet is true. Firozabad has one: beautiful bangles, symbols of a married woman's happiness, are made by people who live in misery and darkness.

The book points to other paradoxes like it: miners who dig out gold and diamonds but stay poor; carpet weavers who make rich carpets but sleep on the floor; builders who live in sheds beside the tall towers they build.

Unorganised workers, such as ragpickers, bangle makers and street vegetable sellers, have no fixed wages, no job security and no benefits.

The book asks how digital tools could help them:

• direct digital payments into their own bank accounts, so that buyers and middlemen cannot cut what is due to them;
• bank accounts to save safely;
• online registration for government schemes;
• mobile phones to find better prices and sell without middlemen.

Before writing a report or a paragraph on such a topic, make notes first: who the workers are, what they do, how they live, and why they stay poor. Then write in order, from the notes.