The stretch opposite Esplanade seems to be a tad bit lit. The lights go out at 8PM when the mall closes, as per the BMC SOP and the road opposite the once-glittering mall that had cars zooming in and out of its gate till 11:30 at night no longer has autos eagerly waiting for customers, screaming “Kalpana, Kalpana” or gupchup stalls catering to customers who can’t find anything to replace their favourite pani-puris in the mall’s glittering food court.
The last 6 months changed everything, putting the livelihood of street vendors around the world in jeopardy. Odisha’s Unlock strategy has managed to bring people out of their homes and one can see people eating their favourite street food after months of lockdown, but it’s nowhere close to what it was before - the innumerable khatti groups are missing, people do not gather around or are asked not to in fear of the virus.
People are hesitant to eat Pani-Puris now. The days immediately after the lockdown were extremely difficult since business just wouldn’t pick up any pace. After Unlock began, people began to go out more. A casual stroll in the city’s busiest market areas might take you to food corners that are back in business, albeit till wee evening hours, ears alert for police patrolling vans that asks them to close shutters early on. They do close their shutters by 8 or 8:30 because they have to be home before the 9PM curfew. They don’t want to do that; it’s bad for business. But there’s no choice.
The busiest stretch of the city – Nalco Square to KIIT Square – was devoid of any kind of crowd during the first phase of Lockdown. Manoj, an ice-cream seller, missed the last train to go back to his hometown. He had come to Bhubaneswar to join an ice-cream factory when lockdown was announced. Despite trying his best to find work in factories, he couldn’t get any even after the lockdown. “I had to pay the rent. I didn’t want to wait for help.” So, he took charge of an ice-cream cart instead. Even though he earns only as much as needed to eat, a slight increase in sales lately has made him hopeful. However, he is yet to have heard back from his employer at the factory.
Recently, the BMC allowed street vendors to open business, but only for takeaways. An SOP was also issued for the same. But, in the absence of their base customers – college & university students – business is few and far. Add to that the uncertainty and fear of the virus in the midst of Khordha becoming the hotspot yet again. The movable stalls and thelas have changed their usual spots. They prefer being in the alleys, behind malls and offices instead. Office-goers are the only visible customer base now. And online deliveries the only feasible solution.
Add to that the media reports claiming transmission of the virus through food, especially non-vegetarian food. In spite of repeated clarifications by the Odisha Government as well as the WHO, people stopped buying chicken, so much so that broilers had to sell chicken at ₹10-₹20 per kg in many places across Odisha. The only things people bought were vegetables, eggs and groceries. Hence, many street food vendors decided to sell vegetables and eggs instead. To manage their business, some of them began local deliveries, albeit secretly since only a few retail outlets and kirana stores were allowed to make deliveries.
The State Government had announced financial assistance of ₹3000 for 65,000 registered street vendors in all 14 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state in March. However, not all vendors have received the amount. In June, the Dahibara-Aludam Gupchup Bulabikali Sangha sent a letter to the BMC stating their grievances and requesting them for enrollment of all such vendors under Street Vendors Act-2014 and a monthly assistance of ₹10,000. But, most street vendors are not registered, rendering them ineligible to apply for any government assistance.
50-year old Jogendra Das could have received some help from the government if only he had not lost the receipt of the ₹500 ‘fine’ he paid to get permission to continue his business in Saheed Nagar. The former pani-puri seller now sells corn to eke out a living. This seasonal business is not giving him the kind of returns he got from pani-puri. But what can he do? “It is my fault I lost that receipt. How can I go and claim any assistance without receipt?” He points to his mask and says, “As long as this thing is on our face, business will not pick up. People are scared to go out, let alone eat out.” His lockdown days were spent using his savings, buying rice and potatoes through his ration card that he and his family turned into a meal. Selling corns is a seasonal business. What about winters? “It’s okay. I’ll figure something out. I’m not alone in this. Everyone is suffering. We are all trying to adjust. Samaste santi re thantu, bas! (May everyone exist in peace, that’s all)”
With major reopening starting September, things seem to be working out for a few. Corn seller Apura Sahoo has been in this business for 20 years at the same spot just outside Rama Devi University, is more hopeful about the situation. The sweet corn seller gets his products from a godown that brings imported sweet corn fresh out of harvest. In pre-Covid times, he’d sell close to 300-350 corns every day. The lockdown forced him to rely on savings. However, unlike Das, he kept his receipt and received some financial assistance. “People were reluctant initially, but business is picking up now. I have a customer base since I have been here a long time. Ex-students of this university still come to me,” says Sahoo. One hour with him and you see 3-4 customers coming for corn worth ₹50. Selling corns might be a seasonal business for many, but not for him. “I sell around 150 corns now. It’s kind of less than half of what I sold earlier. But, I’m hopeful because I’m here all year round.”
The crisis forced many vendors to change what they sold - from 'inessential' items like fast food to 'essentials' like fruits & vegetables. That transition required them to take loans with huge interest rates. Right now, such vendors are clearly in need of direct income benefits that help them pay off loans they took to restart their business. Livelihood options and few and far with restrictions and lockdowns announced with little preparatory time. While vendor organizations are trying to advocate for their rights and find a place to sustain, providing necessary resources and a conducive environment to continue business without fear is required. In order to bring that kind of an environment that helps them get back on track sooner, the following can be taken into consideration:
Inclusion of Vendors selling non-essential goods in Livelihood initiatives – Reopening markets, as seen in Unlock phases, helps revive business. However, the ever-changing crisis scenario and subsequent lockdown takes them several steps back where they are again forced to exhaust their savings or take more loans to survive. Allowing vendors back on streets has proved beneficial to them. But, they do need to be included in initiatives undertaken to leverage livelihood options for businesses selling essential items.
Vending Zones for smaller vendors – For inclusion of social distancing and hygiene, providing vending zones for street food vendors might serve dual purposes. Most street food stalls are parked in a haphazard manner outside malls and shopping centres. Providing an organized vending area for smaller stalls like pani-puri, chaat, corn, sandwiches, etc can reduce fear and increase business. In view of the pandemic, hygiene facilities (running water, washing stations and covered dustbins) and sufficient spaces for social distancing can be provided.
Delinking assistance from Registration requirements – Registered vendors comprise only a small fraction of the vast number of street vendors. Most of them have no idea how and where they should register. There have been no on-ground surveys to identify and register vendors. De-linking financial assistance from rigid registration requirements, for the time being, till the situation improves might lead to better reach of government assistance and might benefit more vendors. Further, the government can provide direct support instead of stimulus package or assistance that require a complex registration process.
Providing hygienic food handling equipment – The use of unwashed hands is what gives the ‘unhygienic’ tag to street food. Going forward, the government may take steps to provide sanitizers, gloves and running water to food vendors instead of asking them to invest in it. Cooked food vendors can be provided training in food safety and management while cooking and serving or sending takeaways.
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