Deprivations and conflicts in street vending in Guwahati

Assamese version available in IDRC Digital LibraryStreet vending plays a vital role in providing livelihoods to a large underprivileged section of society, but its contribution is not accepted by city authorities or urban planning agencies. Vending on streets and open spaces is illegal in the city’s Master Plan or Local Area Plan as it does not conform to land use provisions. For city administrators, any land use in violation of the statutory plan demands eviction. “Ordinary” deprivations such as lack of basic services contribute to structural violence. Conditions for exploitation and extortion are created, which provoke harassment and conflict between lessees and vendors. New policy recommendations are suggested