Exploring Socio-Economic and Psychological Condition of Street Vendors of Barishal City: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

The number of street vendors are increasing day by day. People are coming in Barishal city due to illiteracy, poverty, long time unable to manage a job, labor supply, large family size, and to search for better job opportunities and better living, and administrative purposes, then the displaced and vulnerable people start street vending. This is needed very less capital, no educational qualification, no training, easy to start and easy to move. Female vendors are very few because of patriarchy, religious bindings, unequal power relations, female inferiority, unable to decision making, women’s availability to indoor works where vending is an outdoor work. Besides, it is a very tiresome and arduous job so male are best suited to perform street vending under the scorching sun or rain in the roadside or market area. Most of them are married and live in the slum areas and congested small rooms with too many children which is very unhygienic and congested. Street vendors compete with the other vendors of the city, face difficulties when the municipality and the police force interfere with their business. Their mental stress becomes growing negatively when forced to leave their working place without prior notice. This situation creates both economic and psychological stress for the street vendors. To solve these problems government should provide them a certain place for vending, minimum/interest free loan, license, educational logistics support and to strengthen the social awareness program. Key Words: Street vendor, income, employment, urban informal sector, social capital, socio-economic status, psychological stress