Work Security and Other Challenges for Street Vendors in Guwahati City, Assam

Abstract

In this article, we scrutinise the everyday challenges for street vendors, the various facets of representation, the everyday practices of civic authorities, and the existing protective measures for street vendors and their implementation in Guwahati City, Assam. Street vendors in Guwahati are deprived of their legal protection and subjected to frequent harassment, eviction and confiscation of merchandise. Vendors are often forced to take refuge in illegal activities like bribery, either cash or kind, to sustain their business. We examine how municipal officials, police and collection intermediaries deal with these illicit and corrupt practices. We also examine the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014 as a means for protecting the rights of the street vendors in India and progress in the implementation of this Act in Guwahati.

Keywords:

• Street Vendors
• Guwahati
• Livelihood Insecurities and Vulnerabilities
• Street Vendors Act 2014

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

2 Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

3 Tamul-pan is the Assamese traditional pair word comprising betel nut (tamul) and betel leave (pan), which is consumed after tea and meals and also served to guests as a welcoming gesture. It plays a very important role in marriages and different other religious ceremonies in Assam.

4 Panipuri is a popular Indian snack, referred to variously in different regions e.g., puska, phuchka, golgappa, fuska, gup-chup, panikebatashe, tikia, and so on.

5 Mr Sangma resides in Agia village, in the Goalpara district of Assam. For the last 10 years, he has been covering approximately 240 kms daily from Goalpara to Guwahati and back by train for vending.

6 These daily working hours of street vendors do not include such tasks as collecting vending goods like fish and vegetables, washing or preparing produce and making panipuris—these tasks take approximately two hours daily.

7 Assam Street Vendors Association.

8 Ganeshguri (Wholesale Gali), Barbari (VIP Road), Panbazar (opposite of Meghdoot Bhawan), Uzan Bazar (in front of GMC office), Fancy Bazar, (PhoolGali) and AT Road (Col. J. Ali Road).

9 Mr NarenRajbongshi is the current president of ASVA.