Research Abstracts on Child Labour Women Labour - Nipccd

hygienic environment to street vendors to sell their goods. License/ identity cards should
also be given, and an educational programme and health programmes should be organized
twice a month for women vendors.
Krishna, Sangeeta. (2001).
Women vendors : a study of Varanasi. Varanasi : Banaras Hindu Univ., Faculty of
Social Sciences, Centre for Women's Studies and Development. 45 p.
Key Words : 1.WOMEN LABOUR 2.VENDOR 3.STREET VENDOR 4.WOMEN VENDORS
5.WORKING HOURS 6.SUPPORT STRUCTURE 7.ROLE CONFLICT 8.MUNICIPALITY 9.CASE
STUDY 10.PROBLEM OF WORKING WOMEN 11.FEMALE HEADED HOUSEHOLD.
Abstract : Working women in the informal sector is an important segment of the labour
force. The economic and social conditions of those working in this sector are dismal. It was
estimated that about 15% urban informal sectors workforce are street vendors.
Participation rate of female workforce in the informal sector is as high as 49% as against
15% to 17% in the case of males. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the
motivational factors for choosing the trade/ business; ascertain the impact of women’s
economic activities; understand the gendered nature of the activities and roles performed
by women. In all 21 women were interviewed. Purposive sampling method was used for
interview because it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of women vendors. Majority
of them were illiterate and only a few were literate upto primary and middle levels. Nearly
29% women sellers under study had large families (5 to 6 children). Majority of the
respondents came from families which have an income of even less than Rs. 50 per day. Only
2 had a daily earning of between Rs. 81-100. Majority of them worked for at least 8 to 10
hours and a few worked 14 to 16 hours. The most frightening experience for these women
sellers is the regular eviction carried out by the district or municipal administration.
Although these poor women have been selling seasonal fruits, vegetables, etc. for the last
15-20 years, yet they do not have a secure a place to sit and vend. Majority of them
reported that their activity gives them a ready source of money everyday; it also releases
them from the monotony and drudgery of household work. Most of the times, in the absence
of any knowledge about calculations, they are cheated by customers. Working women
generally bear double burden as worker, homemaker and mother. Majority of the women
sellers had no aspirations or expectations, but left their destiny on fate. They faced
economic uncertainties due to police harassment, eviction drive by the municipality,
frequent clashes with local shopkeepers, as well as hostilities of the urban middle class
people. Town planning must take into consideration vending lanes on the road so that traffic
need not be obstructed. The police and the municipality must take an attitude of helping
these women rather than harassing them. The periodic ‘encroachment’ clearance should be
done only after providing some alternatives.
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Abstracts</strong> on Child Labour, Labour and Women Labour 1998 - 2009