An Inclusive View to Street Vending in India: Reflections from the Street-Markets across Kolkata

Abstract

The governing dynamics of Urban Informality across cities in India remain closely associated with street vending business activities that are now seen as a generalized mode of metropolitan urbanization. Street vendors form an important part of local economies in a rapidly urbanizing global South, gradually emerging as a vital source of livelihood and employment opportunity for the semi-skilled and lower-income urban class. Our study provides a closer examination of the nature of business of street vendors working in markets across Kolkata (India). This paper reflects the operational dynamics of a complicated supply-chain business structure (seen in street vending across Kolkata), presenting an inter-twined existential relationship between the urban ‘informal’ with the urban ‘formal’. In studying this, the paper focuses on two critical aspects: a) Capturing samples of oral account(s) from merchants/vendors operating in targeted informal markets and, b) Gauging the supply chain dynamics of the consumer’s baskets available in these markets. From the research undertaken, the paper argues for the need to construct an inclusive view to urban informality in any urban ecosystem while providing a comprehensive understanding of street vending in identified local markets across Kolkata.