Street Vendor Economics:
India’s street vendors form a massive workforce, with over ten million people working informally—meaning they have no contracts or formal arrangements to protect them. These individuals often work ten to twelve hours a day, earning about ₹150 to ₹300 on average for daily wages. Despite their significant contribution—street vending accounts for up to half of India’s savings and a major portion of urban informal employment—they remain largely unprotected. Vendors typically face daily risks to their income and personal safety, with no job security or formal contracts to safeguard their livelihoods. Dignity at work and basic protections are ongoing challenges in their everyday lives.
Ravi
Domestic Worker Health:
For domestic workers—especially women—healthcare is a major barrier. Most work informally, which means there is little access to preventive or affordable care. Out-of-pocket costs for illness often exceed ₹1,100 for a single episode, and many can access only untrained local providers, not formal health facilities. Maternity, too, is unsupported; there is no leave, no monitoring, and no structured protection for working mothers. With over ninety percent of India’s workforce operating informally, domestic workers face the double challenge of insufficient healthcare and significant barriers to health information, leaving them vulnerable to ongoing health crises.
Ravi
Artisan & Craft Economy:
India’s artisan and craft sector sustains between seven and two hundred million livelihoods, with a substantial proportion being women or marginalized community members. Many craftspeople earn just ₹150 to ₹400 daily, while intermediaries or middlemen often take a large share—sometimes as much as 70 percent—of the income generated by their work. Due to low earnings and reduced social status, a growing number of young people are abandoning traditional crafts, risking the loss of unique cultural heritage. The sector is marked by social and caste-related challenges that affect opportunities and dignity for countless artisans nationwide.
Ravi
Ground Vendor Marketplace:
Ground vendors, including vegetable sellers and waste collectors, represent some of the lowest earning workers in urban India, often making just ₹80 to ₹150 per day. Their workplaces are typically informal, with many forced to sit on the ground for long hours and facing physical health issues as a result. About thirty to fifty percent of ground vendors experience confiscation of goods or losses each month, and most do not have a designated space in marketplaces. Current marketplace designs frequently exclude them, making their work highly precarious and limiting their potential to earn a stable income or work in dignity.
Ravi
