STREET VENDORS STRUGGLE FOR LIVELIHOOD

Abstract

Bollywood movie of 1961 Tel Malish Boot Polish, in a classic song Ek Ana Boot Polish, Do Ana Tel Malish, summed up the hardships faced by the street vendor. In the song, the vendor charged an 'ana' for polishing shoes and two for a hair massage at his footpath shop in Mumbai. He was proud that he neither stole nor begged but worked hard to earn a living.  Even then he is facing lot of problems.

Street vendors are the most socially and economically deprived, and vulnerable sections of the informal workers. Street vendors face problems relating to their public space utilization. They are deprived of their right to livelihood, right to use public places, right to safety, right to trade and their right to dignity. They work in very difficult and unfavourable conditions. They are deprived of legal spaces to carry on their activities. Indian cities are not planned in a way to accommodate street vendors on roads and pavements. All urban plans allot space for public use such as for parks and gardens. But urban planners give no importance for allotment of space for street vending. Most metropolitan cities in India prepared their master plans in the 1960s. Subsequent revisions of master plans have often made things worse rather than enhancing street vendors.