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Street Hawking

1. “Recovery of goods: Rarely do hawkers try to get their goods back from the municipal godown because the baledars (those who pack the goods into the municipal vans) often pocket most of the raided stuff like watches, clothes, purses etc in the process of packing. Often the baledars release the goods on the spot to the hawker, for a price, when senior officials are not looking. More loss of goods happens at the godown. So it is not worth paying the requisite fine amount, which is at least Rs 500. Then there is the wait of at least 7-15 days. Hence the hawkers prefer to buy their goods again because of the loss of income for the days spent at the godown. Thus for the tea-hawker, the loss of his utensils and food (like bread and biscuits) would be far less than the amount to be paid and the time required for recovery of his goods.

The police: The police “control” entry into the stretch (AIIMS-Safdarjung Hospital area), which is mediated by the pradhan. In fact, while speaking to different hawkers across the city, it became more evident that no hawker can have a rehri-patri anywhere in the city without paying the police official and the municipal authority of that area a particular monthly amount…” (Page 46)
 

2. "Hawkers’ are ready to pay for legality: To ward off the harassment of municipal raids, which affects their business adversely the hawkers are willing to pay the government a monthly rent. The non-food item sellers are ready to pay to the tune of Rs 300-500 at least, and the amount jumped to a high of Rs 1000-1500 in the case of tea-stall owners and fast-food stalls. It must be mentioned here that a few of the food hawkers were even ready to buy the site occupied for about Rs 20,000 indicating the economic value of the space and their activity...” (Page 47)