I Will Not Auction My Back! Lessons from Maharashtra’s Welfare Boards in Financing Social Protection for Informal Workers

India’s welfare boards have existed for more than half a century and represent a unique approach to ensuring the sustainable and fair financing for informal workers’ social protection. Based on a review of the literature and interviews with workers, employers, government officials and experts, this paper explores the design, financing and implementation of Maharashtra’s Mathadi Boards and reflects on lessons learned for the sustainable financing and social protection for informal workers more generally.