The Informal Economy and Street Vendors
Street Vendors: Who They Are
India has several million street vendors selling food, clothes, vegetables and services, and they form a vital part of city life.
Street vending is the most visible face of the informal economy.
Numbers
Estimates put street vendors at around 1 crore across India, though exact counts are hard.
What they sell
Fresh produce, snacks, clothes, household goods and repair services are common.
Who they serve
City residents rely on vendors for cheap, convenient goods near their homes and workplaces.
Who they are
Many are migrants, women and low-income families with few other options.
Millions of office workers buy tea and snacks from a stall near the station every morning.
They provide affordable goods and jobs.
- Street vendors number around a crore.
- They sell everyday goods.
- Cities depend on them.
- Many are migrants and women.
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