Women Street Vendors in Smart Cities

Abstract: People from other geographic areas are drawn to ever-expanding urban amalgamations as desirable places to work. Most of these migrants struggle to find employment in the formal, organised sector due to a lack of education, skills, or both. Additionally, a large number of people in highly populated cities struggle with unemployment for a variety of reasons. A few of these motives inspire both men and women to start street vending. Street vending has always been a part of our customs and culture.More recently, food items, fruits and vegetables, toys, clothing, wool carpets, and even electronics have been sold on the streets. An essential part of our sociocultural and economic lives are street vendors. It is estimated that street vendors make up around 2 percent of the inhabitants of a town and have a substantial economic impact. Nevertheless, it is challenging to quantify the number of street vendors and their economic contribution. In India, street hawking is a major source of income for millions of people, particularly women. The street vending industry is beset by a number of problems that keep women from reaching their full potential. These problems include inadequate infrastructure, harassment by the government, discrimination based on gender, lack of legal recognition, restricted access to financing, and worries about occupational health and safety. This study looks at the socio-economic characteristics of women street vendors and challenges women street vendors’ encounter in smart cities. The paper goes into great detail about these problems, emphasizing the need for an all-encompassing strategy that includes infrastructure and service investments, education and training for women street vendors, and changes to laws and policies. The study also stresses how critical it is to acknowledge the value that female street vendors bring to society and the economy and to safeguard their rights and dignity. We can enable women street vendors to achieve independence and enjoy satisfying lives by tackling these issues