By Laasya Khandavalli, AIDMI, India

In a series of focus group discussions consisting of young female street vendors, AIDMI was able to hear the stories of how their livelihoods were affected by climate variance and market dynamics. The conversation began with the women reflecting on how their parents and grandfathers started their small street-selling businesses, a venture and expertise that has been passed down through generations. The businesses operate in an open-air street market, typically selling seasonal goods based on customer demand.

The Impact of Extreme Heat on Young Female Street Vendors

A major challenge faced by these young vendors is the extreme heat during the summer months. Not only does the heat severely impact their health, causing dizziness, headaches, and even hospitalisations due to vomiting and fainting, but it also affects their ability to operate effectively. Many young women experience significantly longer-term health issues, leading to medical expenses and the need to seek regular medical attention.

Effects on Children

Not only are the women at high risk, but their children are also increasingly threatened by rising temperatures. As it is socioculturally typical for the mother to take care of her children throughout the day, street vendors’ children are especially vulnerable to the realities of extreme heat during the workday. They often bring small children to the market, draping wet cotton cloths on them or crafting a makeshift cloth swing under a lorry to keep them cool. Many women keep a watchful eye on each other’s children, looking out for them as if for their own.

Business Hours Adaptations

In response to the intense heat, the group of young vendors has adjusted their operating hours to adapt to the harsh conditions. Typically, they sell their goods from 8 AM to 12 PM in the cooler morning hours. Afterwards, from 12 PM to 4 PM, they rest at home to avoid the extreme heat, and then return to their stalls from 4 PM to 8 PM in the late afternoon and evening. During the cooler winter months, street vendors extend their hours and operate throughout the day, as the lower temperatures make it easier to manage.

Financial Strain Due to Seasonal Challenges

Street vendors face tough financial situations during the summer months, as their struggle to sell all of their goods results in losses. Decreased customer footfall results in lowered demand, giving customers the right to bargain for even cheaper prices. The absence of refrigerators to store perishables means that any unsold goods are wasted. This cycle creates a lose-lose situation for the sellers, who must lower prices in an effort to sell products quickly, yet still end up with significant losses due to spoilage.

Extreme weather also has an impact on the selling environment. “While heat disrupts the sellers’ ability to work efficiently, the monsoon season brings heavy rainfall, forcing us to completely close our shops for long periods”, says Kajalben (Vikasbhai Patni). The combination of intense heat, rain, and other weather conditions between mid-February and August creates significant instability for these street vendors, making it difficult to plan ahead or consistently generate income.

Potential Solutions for Street Vendors

The vendors shared several ideas that could significantly improve their working conditions. One potential solution is the introduction of larger, community-based shade sails, which could provide coverage for a group of around ten sellers. This would reduce the strain caused by extreme heat and rain, ensuring a more comfortable working environment.

Moreover, a key suggestion from the group of street vendors was the need for a designated selling space provided by the government. Without a proper, stable area to operate from, street vendors face constant disruptions. A license for a dedicated spot would be transformative, say the young women, “like the difference between a renter and a homeowner, but magnified,” as Twinkalben puts it. If a designated space was created for them to sell their goods, it would improve efficiency and safety from climate stress, reduce conflict with other vendors, and provide a sense of security.

Ground-Level Insights

Despite the evidence that climate displacement is already at play for many small businesses and worsened by the insecurity of mobile vending, street vendors’ efforts are often overlooked in policy discussions and urban planning frameworks. Creating a business model that reflected the need for mobility, flexibility, and adaptation, these young women have transformed street vending into a resilient livelihood that is resistant to instability and climate change. Integrated into this business model is the importance of community networks, which is demonstrated through collaboration, friendship, and strength among the street vendors. It is apparent in the way the women have to evaluate costs and adaptation, weighing heat exposure with their children’s needs. It is apparent in the way the street vendors look out for each other’s businesses and children, emphasising the importance of keeping good relationships with surrounding vendors. Their lived expertise offers not only a blueprint for climate resilience but a powerful reminder that meaningful adaptation strategies and policies start with listening to the voices of those who experience climate impacts firsthand.