Street Vending(Part-1)
Imagination is more important than Knowledge. Knowledge is limited, Imagination is Encircles the world.
- Albert Einstein
INTRODUCTION
The term vendor is roughly synonymous with peddler or costermonger. Simply the meaning of vendor “is a person who sells something on the street, either from a stall or van or with their goods laid out on the side walk.”[1] When we talk about vendors usually we think about the food vendors but actually street vending is a vast concept which includes not only food vendors but also different type of hawkers who sells cloths, cosmetics , different types of toys , vegetables not only that other various domestic and commercial equipments on reasonable rates , and anyone can afford such price especially those who are unable to spend sky-scraping amount on these articles in shops but easily they can buy from street vendor. If we talk about the quality then there is difference but not much.
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STREET VENDING -
Street vending began in New York as early as 1691 when pushcart peddlers were first regulated. It emerged as an attractive occupation for new immigrants who had little money and few opportunities to find other jobs. Vending enabled them to achieve financial stability while they struggled to find their footing in a new world. Before long, selling food and general items on the streets became so popular that by the turn of the century, there were more than 25,000 vendors in Manhattan alone. [2] Street vending as a profession has been practiced in India since time immemorial. However, their number has increased manifold in the recent years.
INTERVIEW OF VADAPAV WALA IN NALASOPARA (survey is based on personal interview):-
[3] Nalasopara is a small station in Mumbai in western railway line where I stay. Approx 75 Vadapav stalls are available in west area and more than that number in east. Casually Vadapav is called as the “Jaan” of Mumbai people because many people who commutes on regular basis by train used to eat Vadapav only and the one most important reason is cost which is extremely less than other street food panipuri, Chinese Bhell , Dabeli , south Indian Dosa stall. In Nalasopara the cost of vadapav is 7 rupees per. But in suburban area of Mumbai it is 10 or 15 rupees. Now I would like to move with my interviews which I took from different street vendors in my area they are:-
Pravin Ghadi –“JAI BHOLA SAI” (interview is translated in English)
·
Pravin Ghadi (VADAPAV WALA): “panch minute chalel”, (Yes, you can take only for 5 minutes)
· Me:What is your food stall’s name?
Pravin: “JAI BHOLA SAI”.
· Me: and yours?
Pravin: Majha naav pravin ghadi. (“my name is Pravin Ghadi” this person is maharashtrian so I am typing his reply in English only).
· Me: where you stay and where is your hometown?
Pravin: me ikdech rahto central park madhey. Majha gaon jalgaon ahe.( I stay here only near Central Park, my hometown is Jalgaon)
· Me: why you sell vadapav? You are youth and u can study at this age you are only 22. Why are you not studying?
Pravin: I know I am only 23 and and I do studies too I go to college in morning and when I come back from college then I sell vadapav from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and I have to do this business because this is the only livelihood of myself through which I can afford other requirements of myself. Besides this my father he does some work and he stays in jalgaon I stay here with my younger brother. We are 5 brothers and 3 sisters so the salary is not sufficient to feed and educate them so for my studies I sell vadapav and this is not my permanent work once i will pass my graduation then I will apply for government job.
· Me: good I am impressed by your thoughts hardly people do studies in this poor conditions so my wishes are with you one last question I would like to know about your daily income. What are your daily income, profit and expenditure?
Pravin: you are regular customer (he smiled) so you know it very well I sell more than 150 vadapav from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. katlet price is 7 and vadapav also 7 but bhajji pav is 10 RS. And expenditure is approx half of the profit.
· Me: thank you very much for giving me your precious time. Do your work properly all the best for your graduation and your government job (I smiled).
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[1] Oxford dictionary.
[2] Shawn basinski , director of the svp, ny times.
