Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Evaluation of Working Conditions of Women Street
Evaluation of Working Conditions of Women Street
1
Prof. Shashidhar Channappa- Head, Department of Social work, The Oxford College of Arts,
Bangalore, India.
Dr.Veena K.N – Associate Professor, Dayananda Sagar Business Academy, Bangalore, India.
Dr. V.J.Byra Reddy – Professor, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India.
1
National Policy For Urban Street Vendors, http://muepa.nic.in/policies/index2.htm
temporary office helpers or off-site data processors. Conditions of work and the level of earnings
differ markedly among those who scavenge on the streets for rags and paper, those who produce
garments on a subcontract from their homes, those who sell goods on the streets, and those who
work as temporary data processors. Even within countries, the informal economy is highly
segmented by sector of the economy, place of work, and status of employment and, within these
segments, by social group and gender. But those who work informally have one thing in common:
they lack legal and social protection.
Over the years, the debate on the large and heterogeneous informal economy has crystallized into
four dominant schools of thought regarding its nature and composition, as follows:
• The Dualist school sees the informal sector of the economy as comprising marginal
activities—distinct from and not related to the formal sector—that provide income for the poor and
a safety net in times of crisis (Hart 1973; ILO 1972; Sethuraman 1976; Tokman 1978).
• The Structuralist school sees the informal economy as subordinated economic units (micro-
enterprises) and workers that serve to reduce input and labour costs and, thereby, increase the
competitiveness of large capitalist firms (Moser 1978; Castells and Portes 1989).
• The Legalist school sees the informal sector as comprised of “plucky” micro-entrepreneurs
who choose to operate informally in order to avoid the costs, time and effort of formal registration
and who need property rights to convert their assets into legally recognized assets (de Soto 1989,
2000).
• The Voluntarist school also focuses on informal entrepreneurs who deliberately seek to
avoid regulations and taxation but, unlike the legalist school, does not blame the cumbersome
registration procedures.
Each school of thought subscribes to a different causal theory of what gives rise to the informal
economy. In part, street vending falls in to all of the above four schools; however, it is possible to
recognize street vending to be, majorly associated with the ‘dualist school’.
Vendors play a very dynamic role in the urban economy, providing necessary goods and services,
which are largely both durable and cost-effective, to average income-earning households at cheap
and affordable prices. In addition, they help many small-scale industries to flourish by marketing
the products that they manufacture (Bhowmik, 2001; Tiwari, 2000). Thus, they help to sustain the
urban economy, to a great extent, in terms of generation of employment and income, and provision
of goods and services.
The policy document on street vendors defines ‘Street vendor’ as ‘a person who offers goods and
services for sale to the public in a street without having a permanent built-up structure.’ There are
three basic categories of street vendors: a. Stationary; b. peripatetic and c. mobile, Stationary
vendors are those who carry out vending on a regular basis at a specific location, e.g. those
occupying space on the pavements or other public places and/or private areas either open/covered
[with implicit or explicit consent] of the authorities. Peripatetic vendors’ are those use who carry
our vending on foot and sell their goods and services and includes those who sell their goods on
pushcarts. Mobile street vendors are those who move from place to place vending their goods or
services on bicycle or mobile units on wheels, whether motorized or not, they also include vendors’
selling their wares in moving buses, local trains etc.
The salient features of the act the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street
Vending) Act, 2014. Include - registration and identity cards, Town Vending Committee (TVC) and
a database of registered vendors, entitlement to a new vending site in case of Eviction and
Relocation and Civic Facilities.
Though, in essence the policy on ‘Street Vendors’, was drafted to address several issues and
concerns of vendors, they continue to face challenges and have not been effectively addressed.
Demonitization – a step taken by the government of India on 8th November 2016, abolishing the use
of 500 and 1000 rupee denominations, essentially to curb black money, did cause a lot of immediate
difficulties to many section of the society and particularly the unorganized sector. This is said to
have augmented issues prevailing around street vendors,
5. Methodology
There are studies conducted to understand Conditions of Working Life of Street Vendors in
Lucknow, The nature of deprivations and conflicts, the alleviating measures taken by the vendors
and community-based organizations, etc., there is a need to assess effect of demonetization on street
vendors. This paper intends to evaluate issues and concerns of Women Street Vendors. It also
evaluates the effect of demonetization on them. For this purpose, prior to demonetization, 235
women street vendors, vending in 3 districts of Karnataka namely Bangalore, Bangalore Rural and
Shimoga and post demonetization, 48 women vendors from three localities from Bangalore were
surveyed during May June 2017, using a well-structured questionnaire.
total belong to Karnataka, 37[15.7%] of them belong to Tamil nadu and 17[7.2%] others belong to
Andra Pradesh, Whereas 2 out of these 235 women street vendors belong to other states of India.
One interesting aspect that could be noted from this data is that almost 23% of these vendors are
from Tamil nadu and Andhra Pradesh, who are part of the larger migrated populations from these
states into Karnataka. It is also heartening to note that; even a profession such as street vending
attracts migrants. The age profile of the respondents show that 81.7% of the respondents are in the
age group of 25 to 50 years, further this data shows a progressive decline of the number of street
vendors as the age advances, a possible indicator that ‘street vending’ is a job capable for the people
of the lower ages and not so for those who are older. This also brings out a point often discussed in
the literature of informal economy – that the total life cycle of a ‘job’ in the informal economy is far
shorter than the formal economy. The shorter life cycle of a job in the informal economy adds to
‘unemployment’ among the older population as well as the problems of ‘ageing’. The education
profiles of the respondents show that out of the 235 street vendors, 177[75.2%] of them have
education equivalent or lower than the 7th standard[7th grade] and the rest of the 28 of them have
education up to matriculation; none of the street vendors surveyed had education above
matriculation; a possible inference is that people in the informal sector with educational
qualification above matriculation would not take to street vending and may take up other better
employment within this sector. The family size of the respondents is surprisingly lower than what is
normally expected of the lower income families; with almost 62% of the women street vendors
living in family size up to 4 and up to 96% of them living in family size up to 7. One possible
attribute to such lower size of the families is that the street vendors surveyed for this study are from
slightly better off districts of Karnataka including the capital itself. The data on the number of
earning members in the family indicate that about 55 of the surveyed 235 women street vendors are
the sole bread winners of the family as against the popular belief that ‘men are the bread winners of
the family’; the reason for these women to take up street vending is to earn a source of livelihood
for the family. Another 150 women street vendor are accompanied by another earning member in
the family; the very fact that in spite of another earning member of the family these women have
taken to vending in the streets indicate that the ‘quantum’ of earning of the other earning member,
that, needs supplement and /or the other family member has taken to another occupation that
supplements the income of the women street vendor.
The annexure-2 of this paper provides data on other demographics and Descriptives about a few of
the important variables considered for the study in the backdrop of the policy on street vendors.
From the data on the duration work, a very disturbing trend could be noted; that number of women
street vendors who have been vending for more than 10 years is 71[30.2%] and the number of
women who have been vending in the streets for 5 to 10 years is 51[21.7%] whereas the women
who have been vending in the streets for less than two years is 77[32.8%]. If one observes this trend
in the table, it is quite clear that these 77 women who have got into vending for the last 2 years are
the addition to the existing women street vendors, hence this clearly indicates that the number of
women who have taken to street vending is higher in proportion to those who were existing in last
10 years or more. Or this data might actually be indicating that though higher number of women
take to street vending they may not continue to do so; if this is true, the reasons for this would be
well worth knowing. As regard the duration of time that these women vend in the streets; an
interesting phenomena such as 65[27.8%] of the total of 235 women street vendors vend for 6 hours
or less in a day; making vending almost a part-time employment. On the other side of the spectrum;
the toil of street vending expressed in terms of 66[28.1%] of the 235 women street vendors vending
for more than 10 hours in a day. The rest of the women street vendors that is, 104[44.3%] of them
vend for anywhere between 6-10 hours in a day.
The frequency with which these women street vendors need to replenish their stocks vary from
Daily, Weekly and Monthly; while most of the women, 174[74.0%] out of the total 235 replenish
their stocks daily, inferring that they deal with perishable goods, 52[22.1%] replenish their stocks
on a weekly basis, whereas another 9[3.8%] women replenish their stocks monthly. So far these
women doing another additional job to street vending is concerned; 214[91.5%] of the women street
vendors out of the total 235 do not do another additional job, but exclusively engage themselves in
Street vending, whereas 20[8.5%] of these, do an additional job to Street vending to supplement
their incomes; may be these women are among those who work less than 6 hours per day.
One of the important provisions for these street vendors in the policy on Street vendors is the
provision of public toilet; as regards this provision, in the survey it was asked whether they have
access to a public toilet nearby, if not an exclusive access to the same; 56[24.7%] of these women
reported that they do haveaccess to public toilet facility, whereas a the majority of 179[76.2%] of
them reported as having no access to the public toilet facility near the place of vending.
6.1.2 Additional following-up discussion based on the results on major issues and concerns of
the women street vendors:
The data from 235 women street vendors across the four districts of Karnataka was cross tabulated
to further understand their issues and concerns with particular reference to the policy on Street
vending by the honorable Supreme Court.
Table 1: Cross tabulation between the Place of Vending and Member of any Organisation
Place of Member of any organization
Vending Yes No Total
Bangalore Count 9 36 45
South % of Total 3.8% 15.3% 19.1%
Bangalore Count 5 53 58
North % of Total 2.1% 22.6% 24.7%
Shimoga Count 30 39 69
District % of Total 12.8% 16.6% 29.4%
Nelamangala Count 1 62 63
% of Total 0.4% 26.4% 26.8%
Total Count 45 190 235
% of Total 19.1% 80.9% 100.0%
The first of the cross tabulations to which the data was subjected was to evaluate if the place of
vending has any bearing on these women street vendors being members of any of the street vending
organisations. Table 1 representing this cross tabulation clearly shows that 190[80.9%] of these
women are not members of any of the organisations representing the street vendors; whereas
45[19.1%] of them are members of one of the organisations representing the street vendors.
Analyzing the data in the table further, indicates that among the four districts, in the district,
Shimoga the women street vendors are far more organized than the remaining 3 districts; with about
45% of the women street vendors from shimoga affiliating with one or the other organisations . It is
rather surprising to find that the women street vendors from the capital Bangalore are not as
organized as those of the district- Shimoga.
The Pearson Chi-Square value of this cross tabulation 43.101at 3 degrees of freedom is significant
at 5% level of significance with p-value =0.000
Table 2: Cross tabulation between Member of any Organisation and Awareness of Right
to Roadside Vending
Aware on Right to Roadside Vending
Member of any Organization Yes No Total
Count 14 31 45
Yes % of Total 6.0% 13.2% 19.1%
Count 32 158 190
No % of Total 13.6% 67.2% 80.9%
Count 46 189 235
Total % of Total 19.6% 80.4% 100.0%
Further, it was intended to see if being members of any of the organisations help these women street
vendors to be aware of their right to roadside vending. The table 2 shows the cross tabulation
between membership with the any of the street vendor’s organisations with that of awareness to
roadside vending. The table clearly shows that general awareness about roadside vending is
abysmally low among the total of 235 surveyed women street vendors; with as many as 189[80.4%]
not being aware of their right to roadside vending while only 45[19.1%] of them being aware of this
right. It is surprising to note that two thirds of these women [31 out of 45], who are members of
organiztions representing street vendors are not aware of their right to street vending.
When this data is further analyzed, it is found that though the awareness of their right to vend at the
roadside is low among both members of the organisations and non-members; about 30% of the
members of street vending organisations are aware of this right whereas the same awareness among
the non-members is about 17%. Such analysis lends to the thesis that being members of the street
vendor’s Organisation help them on this awareness.
The Pearson Chi-Square value for the cross tabulation between the membership with the any of the
street vendors organisations with that of the awareness to roadside vending is 4.705 at 1 degrees of
freedom and the same is significant at 5% level of significance with p-value =0.030
Table 3: Cross tabulation between Place of Vending and provision of Public toilet facility
Public toilet facility available
Place of Vending Yes No Total
Bangalore Count 23 22 45
South % of Total 9.8% 9.4% 19.1%
Bangalore Count 10 48 58
North % of Total 4.3% 20.4% 24.7%
Shimoga Count 21 48 69
District % of Total 8.9% 20.4% 29.4%
Count 2 61 63
Nelamangala % of Total 0.9% 26.0% 26.8%
Count 56 179 235
Total % of Total 23.8% 76.2% 100.0%
Besides awareness of road side vending and membership among street vendor’s organisations; the
data among the street vendors from these four districts of Karnataka was cross tabulated for
understanding the access to public toilets to these women with the place of vending. Table 3 shows
the cross tabulation between access to public toilets to these women with the place of vending. On
the lines of Descriptives observed with reference to the provision of public toilet facility to the
women street vendors the cross tabulation in table 3 clear shows that 179[76.2%] of these women
from all the four districts do not have access to public toilet facility. However, among the four
regions – Bengaluru, appears to have a better toilet facilities for street vendors whereas
Nelamangala, in spite of being a semi-urban region, 30 kilometers close to Bengaluru, appears to
have worst toilset facility to street vendors. The Pearson Chi-Square value for cross tabulation
between access to public toilets to these women with the place of vending is 36.305at 3 degrees of
freedom and the same is significant at 5% level of significance with p-value =0.000
are illiterates and 13% have done education up to 10th standard indicating lower educational
attainment leading to street vending. More than 90% of respondent’s families are of 3 to 7 people.
About 75% are involved in street vending for more than 2 years. 98% of respondents indicate that
they invested more than Rs. 500 per week and as many as 48% invest more than Rs. 2500 per week.
Despite these investments, only 10% vendors earn more than Rs. 2500 profit per week.
About 92 % of women street vendors indicate that they had difficulties after demonetization
whereas only 8% say that they did not face any problem due to demonetization and one respondent
has not answered. Some of the specific major problems are Reduction in the daily transactions and
Inability to buy house hold needs due to reduced earning.
Strongly
Parameters NA Disagree Agree Total
Agree
Daily Business transaction Count 3 3 13 29 48
reduced % of Total 6.25% 6.25% 27.08% 60.42% 100.00%
Count 3 3 25 17 48
Some days there was no
business % of Total 6.25% 6.25% 52.08% 35.42% 100.00%
Count 3 3 29 13 48
People wanted to buy but there
was no money / change % of Total 6.25% 6.25% 60.42% 27.08% 100.00%
Count 3 17 21 7 48
I had to give products on loan
% of Total 6.25% 35.42% 43.75% 14.58% 100.00%
60% of vendors Strongly Agree that ‘Daily Business transaction reduced’ and 54% of vendors
Strongly agree that ‘It was difficult to buy anything for house hold requirements as there was no
earning’.
About 88% vendors believe that ‘People wanted to buy but there was no money’ [on account of
lack of availability of cash among people] 87% of vendors had NO sales on some days, 62%
vendors did not have money to buy products from whole sale market, 58% vendors had to give
products on credit.
Only about 4% of vendors think that there is no improvement in the situation even after 6 months
after demonetization whereas 90% feel that there is improvement in the condition. A good 81%
opine that ‘In place of 2000 notes, small demonization (like 50, 100, 200, 500) would help small
business people’. 79% of vendors think that ‘Money is held by few individuals and is affecting
business’.
It is interesting to note that NONE of the vendors transact with any other forms other than cash.
Though there are vendors who use transaction mediums like Paytm or Bhim apps, none of the
women street vendors included in the study are using any such Apps.
When women street vendors were asked if the Small traders like them are in difficulty due to
government policy on money transaction, 2 respondents did not answer and therefore they did not
respond to any other parameter. Among the remaining 46 vendors 5 said there was NO problem and
therefore their responses for the parameters nullify. For the remaining 41 respondents, the level of
agreement for specific parameters are as below.
About 81% of women ‘do not know how to use mobile or other electronic platform for transacting
money and 84% of vendors think ‘It is not possible to do business without hard cash’. Though
about 81% are confident of doing better in the coming months, 67% vendors feel ‘government
should have informed about demonetization in advance’ so that they could have prepared
themselves better. In spite of all hardships with the present business, 67% vendors do not want to
start any other business.
7. Conclusions:
It is quite evident from the analysis above that these women street vendors still face a lot of issues
and concerns particularly with respect to; working hours, public toilet facility, awareness about
organisations that work for them and particularly membership to these organisations and about their
rights on street vending. Further from the foregoing discussion it could be concluded that these
women are generally illiterate and take to street
vending mostly to supplement and /or compliment incomes for livelihood of their families. Some
of them [as many as over 20% of these] are the single workers in the family and street vending is
the means for them to subsist their families and also that they are the breadwinners of the family.
Quit a few of these women[as many as 8%] do take up additional employment as street vending
alone does not provide enough incomes to take care of their families requirements.
The most important conclusion that could be derived from this study is that the policy on street
vending is a non-starter in making lives of the street vendors a little comfortable than however
cruel-some it is now as it has been for many years. Particularly women street vendors are doubly
disadvantaged as it is natural for them to not only earn livelihood for their families but also rear
their families to a meaningful existence.
Demonetization has definitely affected street vendors. Further, its impact was seen in many
different expressions, such as lack of demand, as people did not have cash to purchase goods and
services to lack of cash on the street vendors part to replenish their stock to sell goods and services.
One of the somewhat positive impact of deminitization has been that of forcing street vendors to
sell goods on loan to their loyal customers and thereby promoting social capital among them.
One of the major objectives of demonetization, which of digitalizing economy does not seem to
have metalized, at least with respect women street vendors; as even after six months of
demonetization – the idea of digital cash has not caught the imagination of women street vendors.
One of the puzzles of demonetization that has caught the imagination of the public throughout the
country is the purpose of issuing a denomination of Rs.2000/- currency in place of demonetized
denomination of Rs. 1000/-; also seem to remain a puzzle with the women street vendors.
Overall, like the general public of India, resonating that the situation has normalized 6 months after
demonetization even street vendors feel that the cash flow situation has normalized.
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