Life and Livelihoods of Street Vendors: A Review

The street vendors are a significant part of the urban economies in many parts of the world. Their contribution to the income generation and employment multiplication cannot be underrated. The present paper explores the vulnerability of street vending and its sustainability in over-populated congested urban spaces. This is a theoretical paper which examines how the definition of street vending/street vendors has evolved over the years and across the globe. The paper also delves into the problems associated with street vendors and their economic and social contribution towards the urban economies. The paper also deliberates upon the issue of rights over the urban public space and lastly, discusses the situation of street vendors in urban India.