Pauperism and pauperization are two of the most persistent and widespread phenomena in India. While a fierce debate rages on the line separating the poor from the non-poor, there is scant discussion on the huge mass of paupers living in destitution. This book examines poverty and inequality through a sociologicalanthropological lens that goes beyond the quantitative. It fills a conspicuous gap in the literature on casual labourthat on the floating and footloosetransient labour.