Struggles and Strengths: Socio-economic Challenges and Prospects of Women Street Vendors in Guwahati, India

Abstract

The street vending business forms a major part of the informal sector. Though a lot of challenges prevail yet there are also opportunities for those engaged in this sector. Women play a crucial role in the street vending business. This research work is carried out across 16 markets dominated or where is the significant presence of the women's population. The sample size of the population is 544. The methodology used for this is purely based on a quantitative method using SPSS. A structured questionnaire was used for the survey. The key challenges for the women street vendors are the availability of credit, infrastructure bottleneck, harassment by authorities and social stigma.  Taking advantage of the opportunities -legal, digital, financial and policy-driven, women street vendors can improve their living standards. The study investigates the socio-economic constraints encountered by women street vendors in Guwahati, highlighting issues such as financial insecurity, poor infrastructure, harassment, and limited availability of formal support services. It underscores the necessity for more robust legal protection, enhanced infrastructure, economic inclusion, and empowerment programs to improve their economic well-being and social protection.