What is the introduction of street vendors in India?

Street vending was illegal in urban India for almost six decades until the passage of the Street Vendors Act in 2014. Despite the law having legalised the activity, however, the default policy in most cities across India is to clamp down on street hawkers.

What is street vendors in India?

The Act defines a “street vendor” as a person engaged in vending of articles of everyday use or offering services to the general public, in any public place or private area, from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place.

What is the concept of street vendors?

Street vendors sell goods and offer services in broadly defined public spaces, including open-air spaces, transport junctions and construction sites. Market traders sell goods or provide services in stalls or built markets on publicly or privately owned land (WIEGO Statistical Brief 8).

Is street vending legal in India?

Hawking (Vending) means the act of selling of goods for a living. It is one of the oldest occupation in India and by virtue of Article 19(1)(g) every citizen has a right to carry on any lawful trade or business. It is this right vested in the citizens that the hawkers exercise while engaging themselves in the trade.

What is the policy of street vendors in India?

All vendors in each city should be registered at a nominal fee to be decided by the ULBs based on any reliable means of identification. There should preferably be no numerical restriction or quotas, or prior residential status requirements of any kind.

Empowering India's street vendors as entrepreneurs

What is the case of street vendors in India?

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, passed by Parliament in 2014, legalised the activity. The Act aims to protect the livelihood of street vendors and provide them with a conducive environment for carrying out their business.

Why are street vendors important in India?

Importance of street vendors in India

Many street vendors serve as the primary source of income for their families by bringing food to their families and also paying for school fees for their children. These workers in the informal sector are in close contact with their formal economic system.

How many street vendors are there in India?

As per government estimates, street-vending accounts for 14 percent of the total urban informal employment, and there are around 10 million street vendors in India.

What is the problem with street vendors?

lack of recognition of the role of the street vendors culminates in a multitude of problems faced by them: obtaining license, insecurity of earnings, insecurity of place of hawking, gratifying officers and musclemen, constant eviction threat, fines and harassment by traffic policemen.”

Do street vendors pay taxes in India?

Some Indian federations of traders have opposed the law, arguing that street vendors are able to supply goods and services at a cheaper rate because they don't pay taxes. But street vendors do pay a kind of tax, only these levies don't go into state coffers.

Do street vendors need license in India?

It is not legal for street vendors in India to operate without a license or proper permits, and those who do so may be subject to fines or other legal penalties.

What is the hawkers policy in India?

Therefore, those hawkers who is registered and licensed can also be evicted under this law. Apart from it, Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code 18608 and Section 201 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 19889 also restricted the hawkers from carrying on vending on street pavement.

How many vendors are there in India?

Around 49.48 lakh street vendors have been identified in the country so far, with Uttar Pradesh having the maximum at 8.49 lakh, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 7.04 lakh, the government said on Thursday.

What is the percentage of street vendors in India?

Street vendors constitute nearly two percent of India's urban population (Bhowmik 2005). Street vendors form an integral part of the urban economy—majority of the population depends on hawkers for affordable goods and services.

What is the economic position of street vendors in India?

Most of them are migrants or poor laborers, who work an average of 10-12 hours a day, and still live below the poverty line. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Street vendors in India contribute more than 50% of the country's savings and 63% of GDP comes from street vendors.

How much does a vendor earn in India?

How much does a Vendor make in India? The average vendor salary in India is ₹ 480,000 per year or ₹ 192 per hour. Entry-level positions start at ₹ 300,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to ₹ 1,232,500 per year.

Which city has most street food in India?

Delhi. The country's capital is also known as the food capital of India. Delhi has some of the best street food cities in India, widely known for the diverse choice of street cuisine like chaat and chhole bhature.

What are the problems faced by street vendors in India?

Uncertainty and insecurity: The basic problems of street vendors is insecurity and uncertainty as their profession is considered illegal, but according to government of India assessment done in 2004 shows around 2.5% of local poor urban population survive by working in this occupation.

What are the disadvantages of street vendors?

However, street vending activities also cause a lot of disadvantages including traffic congestion, environmental pollution, visual pollution and reduced food safety.

Is street vendors banned in India?

The Constitution of India also contains provisions for the protection of street vendors in India. Article 14 of the Constitution deals with equality before the law and thus even the vendors possess the right just like any other persons and they will be protected by the law of the country without any discrimination.

How was street vending in India viewed as till recently?

Street vending was till recently looked upon only as an obstruction to traffic and to people walking.

What are the characteristics of street vendors?

Main characteristics of street traders: They generally operate near public places such as railway stations, cinema halls, bus stands, temples, etc. They deal in a variety of goods such as towels, handkerchiefs, things of daily use, mirrors, etc. They deal in low-priced products of common use.

Is it safe to eat street vendor food in India?

Don't be horrified if a vendor tosses a partially cooked item back into a wok of hot oil. Food that is heated to high temperatures kills bacteria, so fried food is an excellent choice if you are in any doubt. The basic rule is to eat hot, cooked food and you should be safe.

What is an example of a street vendor?

Types of Street Vendors

Food Vendors: Food vendors sell a variety of ready-to-eat meals, snacks, and beverages. This category includes food trucks, hot dog stands, taco trucks, ice cream carts, and mobile coffee shops. Fresh Produce Vendors: These vendors sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and sometimes flowers.