Street vending depicts one of the visible forms of informal economy. In many countries, it is considered as an illegal activity. However, it is a growing economic activity, both in developed and developing nations, and is an important source of livelihood for the marginalized sections, particularly migrants. Despite this, the exact number of street vendors operating in many cities across the country is unknown and assigning them rights over the use of public space is still a challenge. Often, they are considered as a nuisance to city development initiatives. Thus, it is pertinent for the state and local institutions to intervene and grant the vendors their fundamental right to livelihood. CPPR is working to support and help two Urban governing bodies of Kerala to implement the Street Vending Act in their jurisdictions. Since the Kerala High Court has asked the Kochi Corporation to implement the Act in Kochi city, it has come to the attention of other Municipal Corporations of Kerala. This project aims to improve the livelihoods and economic freedom of the urban poor. To overcome the implementation challenges of the Act, CPPR proposes to intervene with the support of FNF South Asia to achieve the following objectives.

Objectives

1. Enable the proper implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014, and related rules
2. Ease the barriers for street vendors in obtaining certificates of vending and getting access to their right to livelihood
3. Analyze the state of street vending plans and support the local bodies (Municipal Corporations) in preparing street vending plans

Outputs

1. A survey report of street vendors to identify their status in the cities of Allepuzha and Kochi in Kerala.
2. A comparative study report of the implementation of the Street Vending Act in the Municipality of Allepuzha and Corporation of Kochi, highlighting the gaps and challenges and identifying the best practices.

Expected Outcomes

1. Creation of a framework for the implementation of the Street Vendors Act.
2. Support the institutionalization and implementation of street vending policies.
3. Proper licensing and documentation of street vendors and vending zones.