Living Conditions and Socio-Economic Challenges of Jasmine Flower Street Vendors in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Informal Worker does manual work. More than 90 percent of Informal workforce in India generate nearly 50 percent of national income. Street vending has become a common source of employment for women than for men in India. Street vendors face occupational health issues due to poor working condition and lack safety. Jasmine flower street vending is a viable source of employment for the people of Chengalpattu district in Tamil Nadu. Middle aged men and women in large numbers are involved in the Jasmine Flower Street Vending activity in the road side of Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu both female and male jasmine flower street vendors are actively involved. They are less educated and adapted to this kind of informal activity for their survival. The income they earn out of this informal activity is sufficient to meet only food expenditure. Work throughout the day every month for more than two to three decades untiring effort to support their family economically. Migrants from other states of the country after Covid-19 pandemic lockdown moved into this district involved in this activity found difficult to access facility to sell. Migrants live in hut look for assistance from Government, it is displeasure in the urban sector to find large street vendors in the post pandemic covid-19. This business in Chengalpattu District has opened a new avenue of survival to such migrants and income earned is spent on food and other consumption expenditure. Nothing remains in the hands for saving rely on indigenous money lenders to continue the business. They are relatively poor. Jasmine flower street vendors in this study area are socially backward, economically marginalized and very poor in health.