A view from street level

It is prudent to support street vendors financially and help them evolve as formal entrepreneurs.

Street vendors are a ubiquitous sight in major cities in South Asia and much of the third world. They serve not only as a cog in the wheel of the informal economy, but also as convenient agents for the purchase of daily vegetables, fruits and other consumables. And yet, they are the ones who face the ire of authorities all the time as if they were the only obstacles to the gentrification of cities. Authorities, particularly in Kathmandu Valley, are harsh on pavement hawkers, most of whom come from economically poor regions, often driving them to unemployment and dislocation.