Migrant workers constitute a large part of the informal sector which employs close to 93% of workers in India 1 and contributes nearly 50% of economic output 2 . They lack safe working or living conditions, face forced labour, gender-based discrimination and barely subsist on average INR 500 per day. 90% of health expenditure is out of pocket, (OopE) which has severe long-term consequences for health and earnings. For perspective, less than 20 million informal sector workers are registered under employee state insurance schemes.
M.K. Padma Kumar is involved in developing strategies and managing operations for the IPE Global Group.
He has over 25 years of experience in the development sector, working in civil society organisations and international development agencies like DANIDA and DFID. As the Head of State Partnerships at the DFID India, he was responsible for developing partnerships, programme design, management and strategic oversight of all programmes implemented in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. He has managed various development programmes. His expertise lies in driving operational, financial and programmatic transformations. Before DFID, he was associated with Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Help Age and World Wildlife Fund.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Management with specialisation in Human Resource Management and Finance. He is extensively trained in Project Cycle Management, Grant Management, Performance Management, Leadership Skills and Change Management.