Informality in general and the process of informalisation in particular is considered, more often than not proximate to the connotation of marginality, vulnerability and illegality. Still, in everyday governance as well as development practices recourse to informality is witnessed visibly and progressively. Drawing on empirical experiences, this paper attempts at locating the burgeoning space for informality in everyday practices. The paper argues that informality facilitates escaping myriad costs, which makes practices appealing and perpetual.
The present paper seeks to answer some intriguing questions: does 'informality' necessarily signifies 'illegality'? Whether 'informality' operates only in the 'marginal' spaces? And, whether 'informality' automatically leads to 'vulnerability' and precariousness? The answers to these questions, undoubtedly, have to take into account various practical considerations of the everyday life and of the everyday transactions.
The debate between the 'formality' and the 'informality' is typically anchored to the notion of the State and the boundary of the overarching domain of the State. Therefore, the 'formal', usually, denotes what is recognised by the State and within the limits of the defined domain of the State. However, with the emerging 'global regime', the position of the State and that of its absolute domain are gradually weakening. This has resulted in the proliferation of the ‘local’ both in the context of governance and development. Such propagation of ‘local’ tends to facilitate various 'escapes' from the overarching limits, and most of the times, standardizing notion of formality. Question, thus, arises as to whether growing localization essentially assists reconciliation of informality in its everyday practices. The paper makes an attempt at examining this question in order to answer all other questions already put forth.
