Abstract
Street vending is a major component of the urban economy in India and provides employment and livelihoods to millions. However, Delhi Street vendors face numerous issues due to their lack of legal recognition, limited access to public space and infrastructure, and social stigma. This qualitative study seeks to understand the difficulties street vendors in the Delhi metropolitan area experience, focusing on these “invisible entrepreneurs” who exist on the fringes of the formal economy. The objective is to recognize and analyze the main challenges faced by street vendors in Delhi, such as pertaining to public spaces, infrastructure, legal recognition and social stigma; this study also investigates what coping strategies these vendors utilize in order to address them. With this research, the hope is that it will help generate recommendations for policy and practice which can support street vendors’ livelihoods and well-being. This research aims to contribute to a greater comprehension of the informal economy’s role in urban development, as well as informing policies for improved outcomes for both vendors and their communities.
Key words: Street vending, Poverty, Employment, Informal employment, Infrastructure, Social stigma, Metropolitan, Economy.