The new decade holds much promise, especially in terms of socio-economic development and the development of the urban poor. The pandemic has shaken deep-rooted beliefs about a safe socio-economic condition for people around the world. Hardest hit were the semi-skilled workers, marginal workers and small business owners who today struggle to earn and survive every day. It threw life off the beaten track, sending them into a vortex of socio-economic unrest and despair. We trying to find out how we are been dealing with the challenges. This study also aims to understand how these entrepreneurs and workers have met the challenges and adapted to the paradigm shift in how they do business successfully. The psychosocial impact of the pandemic cannot be ruled out, which will undoubtedly affect urban poverty; and changes in entrepreneurial business dynamics are also an important part of the study. How these semi-educated entrepreneurs have dealt with and adapted to rapid change is also at the heart of this study. This article analyses the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized small businesses and also elicits their stories in the form of small case studies. It also focuses on how these entrepreneurs deal with the difficult financial situations caused by COVID-19 for their businesses.
