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The importance of informal sector cannot be disowned in labour-surplus country like India vis-a-vis in state of West Bengal where employment crisis has taken volcanic shape, and created multiple problems both in socio-economic and socio-political lives. The informal sector, in the form of micro-enterprises, so long having deep attachment with people´s culture and economy has now become integral part of the economy of the state and the country due to overall change in economic scenario of the country. West Bengal is no exception to it. With a rich potential traditional background and traditional knowledge, business viability, and presence of skilled manpower, North and South 24 Parganas districts are the place for the poorest women urbanites. The sustainable livelihood is a distant dream for them. The MEP and MFP are the programs, though the Urban Livelihood Development Programmes (ULDPs), what can bring them the sigh of relief from the clutches of acute poverty and underdevelopment.

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An alumni of University of Calcutta, West Bengal and Utkal University, Odisha, Ms Keya Das is now working as Assistant Professor in the School of Commerce and Finance, Amity University, Kolkata. Her research areas are developmental finance, financial management and accounting. She has six research publications and one book to her credit.

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