Supporting marginalized workers
Supporting marginalized worker groups with training, resources, and advocacy to improve their working conditions and livelihoods.
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The Challenge
- •The cooperative movement in India, once a symbol of economic autonomy and social justice, has stagnated due to outdated policies and lack of regulatory innovation.
- •Current legal frameworks favor corporate structures, leaving cooperatives especially urban, worker-owned ones underdeveloped.
- •There is limited awareness and media visibility on the benefits of cooperatives, leading to misconceptions and low adoption.
- •Marginalized and informal sector workers lack access to sustainable livelihood models and economic security.
Our Approach
- •Policy & Research Support: Commissioned a detailed study in collaboration with ICA Domus Trust (IDT) to explore cooperative viability in Chennai.
- •Pilot Implementation: Facilitating registration of worker-owned cooperatives in sectors like transportation, rag-picking, conservancy, and domestic work.
- •Capacity Building: Conducting workshops on cooperative management, taxation, legal compliance, and governance.
- •Media Engagement: Developing campaigns to reshape public perception of cooperatives through articles, press releases, and social media.
- •Consultation & Dialogue: Organized a day-long multi-stakeholder consultation involving policymakers, cooperative experts, labor representatives, and researchers.
Our Vision
- •Create a thriving cooperative ecosystem in Chennai that serves as a replicable model for other Indian cities.
- •Empower informal and marginalized workers with equitable income, ownership, and long-term livelihoods.
- •Promote democratic, inclusive, and sustainable enterprises driven by the community and for the community.
- •Advocate for policy and legal reforms that modernize the cooperative sector and make it accessible to new economies, including the gig platform economy.
Our Partners
- •ICA Domus Trust (IDT) – Research partner affiliated with the International Cooperative Alliance, Asia-Pacific.
- •Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation (GCMC) – Government collaboration to scale the cooperative model.
- •Cooperative Development Consultant (CDC) – Leading training, legal registration, and business planning for new cooperatives.
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