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Street vending in times of crisis: exploring insecurity and spatial dynamics in Aizawl, Mizoram, India

Aayushi Lyngwa, Bimal Kishore Sahoo

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 31 January 2025

65

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the influence of spatial dynamics on street vendors and examines the insecurities and coping mechanisms they faced and adopted during the pandemic. It examines the precarious nature of street vending during a global economic shock, highlighting the vulnerabilities and resilience of this informal sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a case study approach, conducting semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 74 street vendors in two key markets: Bara Bazaar (natural market) and Treasury Square (non-natural). The authors use the Gioia method, renowned for its systematic rigour in exploring the challenges and adaptations of street vendors during periods of economic uncertainty and crisis.

Findings

This study reveals that COVID-19 lockdowns profoundly impacted the security of tribal street vendors operating in natural and non-natural markets. It sheds light on the mechanism of shadow security, observed as a form of diverse coping mechanisms adopted by vendors during the pandemic, such as collective fund pooling, poultry farming and adapting new business models – from changing the goods they sell to transitioning between regular and mobile vending or from retail shops to street vending.

Social implications

This study used the grounded theory framework of sustainable livelihood strategies and explores how street vendors can achieve sustainability through street vending. It further proposes recommendations for urban policies tailored across various dimensions.

Originality/value

This paper highlights indigenous mechanisms to secure livelihoods, which act as safety nets and facilitate a form of shadow security. The paper also determines how the spatial dynamics of a vending location can preferably change the security of the street vendors in times of crisis. This research challenges the oversimplified notion that the social security of street vendors cannot be neatly categorised as secure or insecure. Instead, it underscores vendors’ dynamic strategies and resilience to sustain their livelihoods amidst economic disruptions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges the fellowship received for pursuing a PhD from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. This is part of her Ph.D. work.

Citation

Lyngwa, A. and Sahoo, B.K. (2025), "Street vending in times of crisis: exploring insecurity and spatial dynamics in Aizawl, Mizoram, India", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-03-2024-0044

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2025, Emerald Publishing Limited

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