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Abstract
Informal work is universal phenomenon. The informal sector makes up a significant portion of the economies in developing countries. It is often stigmatized as troublesome and unmanageable. However, the informal sector provides critical economic opportunities for poor and has been expanding rapidly since the 1970s. There are some other factors also contributing to such expansion like unemployment and poverty, cross border and rural urban migration. Most of people, who were employed earlier in formal sector, tend to opt for informal sector in order to survive after losing their jobs. Trade forms an integral part of urban Indian life both, for trader and consumer. Declining agriculture sector in rural areas coupled with limited jobs in the formal sector in urban areas, forces many of the workers to earn their livelihood through informal means like street vending. Street vending has also been part of the urban Indian fabric, with many of the goods of daily use including food items available on streets, by stationary or mobile vendors.These street vendors, generally concentrated around Institutes, Govt sectors, Main Roads and provide a character to the Indian street as well as work as ‘eyes on the street’. In Indian cities, it is estimated that 2% of the urban population is engaged in street vending activities.