Street vendors in India: Towards a more enforceable policy

Abstract

Street vending is one of the most important sources of employment for a large number of poor people in urban areas as the skills required are very minimal and also financial inputs to start off the business is very less. The total number of street vendors in India is estimated to be around 10 million1 . These vendors are often accused of creating a public nuisance as they block the space meant for pedestrians and vehicles and thus in the process cause traffic jams. They also have to undergo through several problems: obtaining license, insecurity of space for vending and earnings, payment of ‘haftas’(bribes) to please police officers and local goons, monetary fines to traffic policemen, land rights violation cases, lack of proper training and proper supply of clean water in their day to day operations. As a result, more often than not these street vendors end up finding themselves in areas which are not at all strategic for prospering in their business and also some of them are forced to leave the business altogether. Therefore, there is a need to uphold the dignity and the economic interests of the street vendors in India and for which we need a more robust policy of street vending regulations. This study tried to come up with a more enforceable and clean policy of regulating street vendors in India by conducting a primary and secondary research. Secondary research involved studying the literature, relevant judicial decisions by Supreme Court related to street vending issues in the past (E.g. Olga Tellis Vs Municipal Corporation, Sodan Singh Vs New Delhi Municipal Corporation etc.), EPW articles, National laws from countries such as UK that regulates street vendors to identify important features that could be replicated in the Indian context and existing policies with regard to street vendors. Primary research involved conducting surveys and also seeking inputs from relevant stakeholders like Street Vendor Associations, NGOs, Government Officials, Citizens of India and Police Officials for law and order norms. Thus, through this study, issues with regard to street vending were looked at from different viewpoints and probable solutions were suggested that could benefit each of the stakeholders.