ABSTRACT
This is a collection of studies on street vendors. This section of the employed is perhaps the most visible in the urban informal economy. In fact, some may feel that they are too visible and their overbearing presence on the streets becomes a menace for commuters, especially for those using the pavements. The civic authorities in most metropolitan cities all over the world treat these ‘intruders’ on public property as a nuisance. The urban elites view them as eyesores that blotch the urban scenario. On the other hand, for the urban poor, especially the working poor, street vendors are a boon to their existence. These street traders provide cheap food, clothes and other items for their daily use. They are also easy to access as street vendors conduct their business in convenient places in the city where a large number of commuters pass. We have tried to assess the pros and cons of street vending in this volume. Though the focus is on India, as the largest number of chapters is from there, the study covers cities in other countries as well. We have tried our best to provide a global view on street vending. There are, however, some important issues that need to be clarified in order to get a holistic understanding of the situation. The following sections deal with these.
