INTRODUCTION:

Street vendors are recognized as self-employed workers in the informal sectors. The women who were without any expertise of knowledge and had no other option then they were adopting the works like housemaids and vegetable selling and selling fruits or nuts as vendors on street (Anjaria, 2006)¹. The rise of female involvement in the informal sector like street vending is more due to economic need than any change in work ethos. Apart from that, aspect for which the women to engage in such kind of unorganized work where the women vendors breakup of the family owing to death or divorce, unemployed husband, domestic violence and pressure of in laws to earn for their family

However, street vending is a global phenomenon and it is most noticeable aspect of casual division in any types of informal sectors inside our country. According to C. Nisbet, 1967 the terms ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ were used in the anthropological circles in the 1960’s, with meanings closely analogous to their current usage in development studies and employment policy¹⁴. However, street vending is characterized by low level of income, easy of entry, unskilled knowledge, self-employed that’s why it’s includes large number of people. In developing country like India as well as the states Jharkhand stated millions of people; earn money and living their livelihood by selling wide range of goods and service on the street. One of the street vendors’ narrated his view on the socio-political scenario is not only captivating but it also shows how his or her social life and livelihood are regulated on the street through various forces. Therefore it indicates that not only uneducated people engaged in these types of occupation sometime some educated people or individual also choose this occupation also.

According to the National Policy of Urban Street vendors, 2006 by Govt. of India, Street vendors defined as “A street vendor is broadly defined as a person who offers goods for sale to the public without having a permanent built up structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall (or head load). Street vendors may be stationary by occupying space on the pavements or other public/private areas, or may be mobile in the sense that they move from place to place carrying their wares on push carts or in cycles or baskets on their heads, or may sell their wares in moving trains, bus etc. In this policy document, the term urban vendor is inclusive of both traders and service providers, stationary as well as mobile vendors and incorporates all other local/region specific terms used to describe them, such as hawker, pheriwalla, rehri-patriwalla, footpath dukandars, sidewalk traders etc¹².”

Conceptually, street vendors are one of the important components of the urban informal economy. Street vendors occupy a significant proportion of the total employment in the informal sector (Saha, 2011)¹⁵. Despite that street vendors face a lot of challenges and biases from local government representatives and also in urban policies and regulations. However, the street vendors came from outside of the Jamshedpur town while most of the street vendors are vegetable vendors and they try to live their life with dignity and self-respect through hard work. Hence, Jamshedpur is a developing city and because of capital city and proper opportunity, many rural areas worker came in here and as per convention of a developing city indicates heavy man power like labour and that forces, pressurize to the city.

Gutkind’s 1968, anthropological studies of the dispossessed unemployed in African cities and he stated that the petty traders, street vendors, coolies and porters, small artisans, messengers, barbers, shoe-shine boys and personal servants⁹. This ‘trade-service’ sector drew upon Geertz’s, Pedlars and Princes (1963) earlier work on the ‘bazaar’ economy, in his short analysis of two Indonesian towns⁸.

However, Anthropological study done by Bose A.N. 1974, studied on the informal sector in the Calcutta Metropolitan Economy covered the pattern of functioning of the industrial units in the Calcutta slum areas⁴.

Lund Francie 1998, studied on “Women Street Vendors in Urban South Africa: A Synthesis of Selected Research Findings” is based on the women street vendors. This study revealed that the level of education among the street vendors was very low. Gender disparity was found in the level of education¹⁰.

Bhowmik 2001, studied on “Urban Responses to Street Trading: India” was a survey conducted on seven cities in India. The study demonstrated that except in Kolkata, all other municipalities have provisions for providing licenses for street vending³. He pointed out that, women street vendors in India prefer to be fully dynamic, never stop or rest too long at any one place, to avoid thugs and/or harassments.

Another study of Bhowmik 2005, on “Street Vendors in Asia: A Review” and the study analyzed the magnitude of street vending in different countries. The assessment found that the number of street vendors in the countries was on an increase².

After that, Harlan 2008, studied on street vendors and wrote a paper entitled “Street Vendors: Urban Problem and Economic Potential” where he illustrated that street vendors were a big challenge for urban management. The city managers eliminated them as they defaced city sights⁷. The paper suggested a change in the mindset of urban decision makers.

Another study by Nidan 2010, in his paper “Study on Street Vendors at Patna (Bihar)” was based on 600 street vendors in 72 wards in Patna¹³. It found that most of the respondents chose vending as a profession because there were no other jobs available, entry was easier and investment was low.

Recent studies by Cakraborty P. and Koley S. 2017, studied on “Socio-Economic view on Street Vendors: A Study of a Daily Market at Jamshedpur” and found that the pattern of subsistence in the daily market were not comfortable for street vendors; where most of the street vendors were not fit on the street daily market although they have no better option for living the live⁶.

During the eighteen years of Jharkhand State, since the socio-economic condition of women street vendors have not massive change in street vending activity? Thus it is important that the women street vendors have not been improved in terms of income level, working hours, access to finance, safety on work place and intolerance by local bodies and others important aspect. There for the authors try to find out the socio-economic status of the women street vendors of a daily market near Tatanagar Rail Station, Jamshedpur.

In view of the above background the present study aims to point up on the socio-economic condition of the women street vendors near Tatanagar Rail Station, Jamshedpur. The following specific objectives have been given bellow:

1 To illustrate the demographic view of the women street vendors.

2 To explore the socio-economic milieu of the women street vendors.

3 To find the subsistence pattern as well as their sustainable livelihood.

METHODOLOGY:

The present study has been conducted on women street vendors of a daily market near Tatanagar rail station, Jamshedpur where majority of the women vendors sitting on street for selling their goods and most of the street vendors are selling vegetables. Therefore, for the present study, respondents have been selected on street who was selling various types of goods. For the selection of respondents using convenient sampling method and the sample size confined as 64 women individuals who selling goods on the street.

Data has been collected from both secondary and primary sources. For the collection of primary data some anthropological methods such as observation method, interview with the structure and unstructured questionnaire, group discussion, case history method were adopted to know some of the issues that were not incorporated in the schedule. On the other hand, secondary data has been used to found a theoretical outline for the study. Secondary data has been collected from various books, journals, magazines, reports and from various websites.

However, during study semi-structured questionnaire used which based on the objectives of the study (Bryman, 2008)⁵. Both closed and open-ended questions have been included in the questionnaire. Since the study was exploratory in nature, an open-ended question has been used to give a hand to exploring the present condition. Group discussion has been conducted with vendors under study area. In depth discussion has been also prepared with the street vendors, who provided information.

Data has been analyzed with the help of Microsoft Excel 2007. Suitable statistical implements have been used to measure the socio-economic conditions of the women street vendors of a daily market near tatanagar rail station, Jamshedpur.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Table–1 deals with demographical aspects such as “Age Distribution, Marital Status and Educational Status” of the women street vendors under study area. From this table it is revealed that in case of ‘Age Group’ wise distribution of the total number of the respondents under study maximum numbers of women street vendors were belongs in the age group 25-59 i.e. 53.13% out of the total number of respondents whereas, 35.94% women street vendors were belongs in the age group 15-24. On the contrary, 60 and above age group shows 10.94%.

Table-1

Variables	Female
Variables	(N=64)	(%)
Age Distribution:
15-24	23	35.94
25-59	34	53.13
60 above	7	10.94
Marital Status:
Married	43	67.19
Unmarried	5	7.81
Widow	14	21.88
Separated	2	3.13
Educational Status:
Illiterate	19	29.69
Ability to sign	25	39.06
I – IV	13	20.31
V – VIII	7	10.94
Caste/ Community Wise Distribution
General	2	3.13
OBC	3	4.69
SC	12	18.75
ST	47	73.44

*Age Division years, basis on the category of the age group to follow the “Population By Major Age Group And Percentage Distribution By Age Group For The World” page - 37 Source: World Population Prospects: the 2004 Revision, Extended Dataset, United Nations, 2005.

It is further revealed from the table that in case of marital status wise distribution of the women street vendors shows 67.19% respondents were married whereas, only 7.81% women street vendors were unmarried. Respectively, 21.88% women street vendors were widow and 3.13% women street vendors were separated.

Table–1 under marital status clearly illustrate that most of the women street vendors has been married that means after married the women were living unhappy, poor livelihood in the sense economically poor; therefore, those women engaged their occupation as street vending for surviving the livelihood.

The educational level among the women street vendors has been generally low, as indicated in education status wise distribution. Out of the total studied women street vendors, 29.69% were illiterate, whereas, 39.06% can only sign their names. On the contrary 20.31% has been attained primary level education. Respectively, 10.94% achieved post primary level education or middle school of education.

However, noticeable fact is that under studied population no one attained madhyamic level of education. Therefore, the education status table refers that most of the women street vendors were less educated. One of the respondents stated that, “I had no opportunity other than street vending, as it necessitates less education, unskilled knowledge and comparatively minor resources as compared to other occupations.” She also added that “most of the women street vendors carry out to this occupation for support their own families because here, street vending is not safe for women but we had no other option. Therefore, we engaged as women street vendors in this daily market.”

Furthermore, the table also deals with another demographical aspect that is cast/community wise distribution of the women street vendors. The cast/community wise distribution of the women street vendors demonstrated that out of the total number of respondents most of the street vendors were belongs into schedule tribe which is 73.44% and on the contrary 18.75% respondents belongs into schedule caste and 4.69% respondents belongs into OBC and rest 3.13% belongs as general caste community.

Table–2 deals with “Daily Income, Product-wise Distribution and Daily Working Hours” of the women street vendors under study area. From the table, the ‘Daily Income’ category illustrate that majority (35.94%) of the women has been earned Rs. 101 to Rs. 200 per day, whereas, 12.50 % women has been earned Rs. 301 to Rs. 400 per day and this is the tiniest percentages; while, daily income Rs. 401 above shows that 15.63% Women this amount per day. Apart from that, lowest income category has Rs. ≥ 100 who earned this amount per day i.e. 18.75%. Therefore, the daily income clearly pointed out that an average number of women earned lowest rupees per day and that amount not enough to sustaining the livelihood for a small family, in the current situation.

Table-2

Variables	Female
Variables	(N=64)	(%)
Daily Income (approx., in Rs.) wise Distribution:
≥ 100	12	18.75
101-200	23	35.94
201-300	11	17.19
301-400	8	12.50
≤401	10	15.63
Monthly Household Income (approx., in Rs.) wise Distribution
≥ 2500	16	25.00
2501-4000	28	43.75
4001-5500	12	18.75
≤5501	8	12.50
Types of Vendoring Product wise Distribution:
Vegetables	35	54.69
Fruits	5	7.81
Flowers	18	28.13
Cooked Food	6	9.38
Daily Working Hours
≥ 3	18	28.13
3-6	27	42.19
6-9	12	18.75
9-12	5	7.81
≤ 12	2	3.13

Apart from the ‘Daily Income’ of women street vendors, the table also demonstrate the ‘monthly household income’ of the women street vendors. Thus, the ‘monthly household income’ illustrated that foremost percentage (43.75) under the category of Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4000 where, majority of the women street vendors surviving their livelihood. However, only 12.50% women street vendor has monthly household income Rs. ≤ 5501. Furthermore, the table also reveals that about 25% women street vendors have the monthly household income Rs. ≥ 2500. Therefore, the ‘monthly household income’ stated that nearly every women street vendors sustaining their livelihood with lowest household income. Thus, the study indicates that the women street has the poor economic situation.

However, the income of the women street vendors depends on which types of goods they sell, and it varies product to product and also in terms of the amount of product and spending time for selling of the products. Therefore, the daily income of the street vendors shows that a few vendors earn quite a high income. Moreover, the table also exemplify that the incomes of the women street vendors depends on the selling’s of verity of goods such as fruits, flowers, vegetables and cooked foods vendors.

Furthermore, the table–2 illustrate the ‘types of Product selling’ wise distribution where, majority of the women street vendors have been selling vegetables i.e. 54.69% whereas, second most selling product was flower i.e. 28.13%. Apart from these two types, the women street vendors also selling fruits and cooked foods i.e. 7.81% and 9.38%

Finally, the table also exemplified that, the working hour’s wise distribution of the women street vendors on the daily market. Thus, distribution stated that, 28.13% women street vendors spending time in the market ≥ 3 hours; whereas, majority of the women i.e. 42.19% street vendors spending time in the market 3-6 hours. In addition, only 3.13% women street vendors spending time in the market 12 hours and above. These very few percentages of women living in the nearby market place and those were the fruit seller in this market. As the result of this, the women street vendors have been spend half a day in the market.

Despite the above facts, the women sustained their livelihood as street vendors because most of them unskilled as well as uneducated and poor although, the street vending did not require lot of money that’s why the poor, unskilled women chooses street vending as their occupation. However, street vending as occupation for women not easy because as the women assured that “we faced endless harassment from both the local traffic police and some addicted people at our workplace. But we have no better option; therefore, we choose our occupation as street vending. However, some time in regular basis the local traffic police forced us to pay payoffs.”

CONCLUSION:

The present study shows the demographical and socio-economic aspects of women street vendors in the daily market at Jamshedpur; as the demographical aspects stated most of the women were illiterate and at the same time majority of the women belongs into the schedule tribal communities. Another important finding of the study is that majority of the women earned par day less than two hounded rupees. In addition, the monthly household income of the women street vendors exemplified that an average below four thousand which not a good amount to living a family life at urban centre. However, during study time it’s clearly stated by the key respondents that most of the women came from nearby rural areas, especially the vegetable vendors. Apart from the above factors, most of them were unskilled, less educated with poor economic condition. Thus, the study indicates both the poor economic and working conditions to rapidly rising competition and to survive in the local market, women vendors want to increase the number of hours of their work.

Moreover the present study pointed out that majority of the women street vendors has been earn low amount on daily basis on the contrary, their monthly household income also stated that actuality they sustaining their livelihood with so many difficulties and every day they struggling there to living better livelihood, where, street vending is problematic for women although, the women accepting the challenging occupation to improving the living situation.

Finally, the present study may be helpful to raise the different issues like social aspect of women street vending, importance of informal economy, life of women street vendors in urban areas, problems of women street vending and so many to study especially in the field of anthropology as well sociology, economics and economic anthropologist to further researches.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

We express our deep senses of gratitude to those women street vendors who selling their goods on a street daily market, at Jamshedpur for their co-operation in all possible ways to carry out the study to the present work. To all we iterate our apology for perturbing their tranquil life which demands peace and rest.

REFERENCES:

1. Jonathan S. Anjaria. Street Hawkers and Public Space in Mumbai. Economic and Political Weekly. (41) 21; 2006: 2140-2146.

2. Bhowmik S. K. Street Vendors in Asia: A Review. Economic and Political Weekly. (28)22-23; 2005: 2256-2264.

3. Bhowmik, S. K. Hawkers in the Urban Informal Sector: A Study of Street vendors in Seven Cities. National alliance of street Vendors in India (NASVI). 2001. Available from: URL: http://www.streetnet.org.za/English/page10.htm

4. Bose A.N. Informal Sector in the Calcutta Metropolitan Economy. World Employment Programme Research. Working Paper. Publisher: International Labour Office. Geneva: ILO: 1974.

5. Bryman, A. Social Research Methods. 3^rd Edition. Oxford UL. Oxford University Press. 2008.

6. Chakraborty P. and Koley S. Socio-Economic View on Street Vendors: A Study of a Daily Market at Jamshedpur. Journal of Advanced Research in Humanities and Social Science. (5)1; 2018: 14-20.

7. Dimas H. Street Vendors: Urban Problem and Economic Potential. Working Papers in Economics and Development Studies. 2008. Available from: URL: http://ceds.feb.unpad.ac.id/wopeds/200803.pdf

8. Greetz C, Pedlars and Princes. Bazaar Economy. Chicago. University of Chicago Press. 1963.

9. Gutkind P.C.W. African Responses to Urban Wage Employment. International Labour Review. (97)2; 1968: 135-166.

10. Lund Francie. Women Street Traders in Urban South Africa: A Synthesis of Selected Research Findings. School of Development Studies. University of Natal Durban. 1998. Available from: URL: http://www.wiego.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/Lund-women-street-traders.pdf

11. National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector. Report on Comprehensive Legislation for Minimum Conditions of Work and Social Security for Unorganized Workers. 2007. Available from: URL: http://dcmsme.gov.in/Condition_of_ workers_sep_2007.pdf

12. National Policy on Urban Street Vendors. 2006. Available from: URL: http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/1167478283/bill82_2006123082_National_Policy_for_Urban_Street_Vendors.pdf

13. Nidan. Study on Street Vendors at Patna (Bihar). Centre for Civil Society. New Delhi. Study Report on Street Vendor. 2010. Available from: URL: http://nidan.in/nidanwp/Documents/ Study%20on%20Street%20Vendors%20at%20Patna.pdf

14. Nisbet C. Interest Rates and Imperfect competition in the Informal Credit Market of Rural Chile. Economic Development and Cultural Change. (16)1; 1967: 73-90.

15. Saha Debdulal. Working Life of Street Vendors in Mumbai. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics. (54) 2; 2011: 301-326.

Received on 08.08.2018 Modified on 05.09.2018

Int. J. Rev. and Res. Social Sci. 2018; 6(4): 400-404 .

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2687.2018.00033.3