Thousands of people depend on street vending to eke out a living in the city. On the footpaths and roadsides, they peddle various items, ranging from safety pins to fruits and vegetables. But now their livelihood is in peril, with the district administration serving eviction notice on all encroachments, based on a High Court order.
It is estimated that the city has around 2,000 street vendors, mainly stationed at commercial areas like East Fort, Chalai, Manacaud, Thampanoor, Statue, Palayam, Kesavadasapuram, Vazhuthacaud, Medical College and Sasthamangalam. It is from them that many middle-class families purchase vegetables, fruits, groceries, clothes, fancy jewellery, souvenirs, second-hand books and other items of daily need at affordable prices.
Street vendors often sell the products of the unorganised sector, which has no other market avenue. In fact, these are the only sale outlets available for these micro-scale manufacturers. Wayside shops allow working class people and even middle-class consumers to purchase items at prices that are lesser than in any store.
Street vendors, typically, lead a very hard life. The average working day of a vendor is 10 to 12 hours. There is no social security or protection offered by the government. Their earnings, after all expenses, are meagre; presently ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 200 a day for both men and women vendors who sell small items.
In fact, these street vendors regularly have to cross swords with the police and civic authorities to carry on their vocation. There are even instances where these vendors are forced to pay bribes to police and other authorities as well as huge fines. It is also learnt that a major share of their income is given away in the form of bribes or fines. “It is only through bribery can we survive for carrying out our trade here,” said a woman vendor.
All the street vendors said they are worried about their future. “It will be a great help for us, if the authorities identify a hawking zone or allow us to carry on with our trade,” said Rajamma, a vegetable vendor at Chalai.
However, many vendors refused to speak up, fearing a backlash from officials.
Meanwhile, there has been no move from either officials or others for making things easier for the street vendors, who are being blamed for encroaching on the pavements as well as the roads violating road safety rules, which has made their lives far more tough in recent days.
The District Collector had earlier said that notices would be served on all street vendors in the city and encroachments on pavements would be immediately removed. He had also said that action in this regard would be taken within 20 days.