Urban Informal Sector and Street Vendors

Abstract

Abstract

In India, a major section of self-employed informal workers work as street vendors. They provide a range of goods and services that are useful to other sections of urban poor and hence they form an important segment of the informal economy. Based on the findings of the study conducted in Patiala district of Punjab, this paper focuses on the socio-economic analysis of various categories of street vendors.It has been found by the study that due to low level of income, these street vendors spend low on various requirements which in turn lead to lower level of welfare and low standard of living. Due to this reason a major section of street vendors isliving below poverty line.Moreover, these poor vendors lack designated areas for vending and face various types of harassments from different sources in the form of evictions and confiscation of their goods and other belongings which restrict them from investing capital to increase the scale of operation and hence income level.This paper argues that the state government should implement the provisions of ?Street Vendors Act, 2014? to ensure the urban poor a secure and dignified livelihood.