Paper short abstract:

Lesser avenues for earnings has increased street-trade during festivals in Delhi. Itinerants faces eviction and confiscation with no access to basic facilities. The paper explores their problems and suggest ways to give recognition to such trade through policy initiative and legal reforms.

Paper long abstract:

The rising population, lesser avenues for earnings, rising debt burdens, and a large migration or rural population, has increased unauthorised street trade in Delhi, especially during the festivals. Though it is a source of livelihood for the poor, this is leading to urban chaos with shrinkage of the pedestrian and public space. Itinerants face the threats of eviction, violence, confiscation of goods. They do not have access to basic facilities. This is also creating the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The philosophers suggest seeing unity in duality to respond to the plight of the not-haves and ultimately restore the imbalance that persists in the world. The objective of the paper is to understand the problems of street-trade vendors during the festive-season in Delhi; devise ways to respond to the troubles that engulf and threaten the lives of the not-haves, here the street vendors, by giving recognition to such trade through policy initiative and legal reforms. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. Primary sources included semi-structured interviews of street-traders, Municipal Authorities, urban planners and legal experts. Review of literature, study of regulatory framework, working papers and research surveys formed the secondary sources. The paper suggested that the Local Municipal Authorities should give recognition to festive-time street-trade and draw a policy framework to formalise such a trade by charging a nominal fee. Also, the municipal authorities should demarcate the areas for such vendors ensuring shop space, basic facilities and sanitation during the festival season.