EnsuringRuralandUrbanLivelihoods-PlanningCommission.pdfVIP

5 Ensuring Rural and Urban Livelihoods INTRODUCTION engaged in food processing, hawkers, vendors, and 5.1 The dispersed, unorganized and often household- carpenters. based micro and small enterprises are capital-saving, labour-intensive, and environment-friendly tools of 5.3 In developing countries across Asia, small and inclusion. In India, they are the largest source of medium enterprises (SMEs)2 (i) make up 80%–90% employment after agriculture and are found in both of all enterprises, (ii) provide over 60% of the private rural as well as urban areas.