Vendors are paid daily wages and are at mercy of owners

HEMA SINGULURI | Hyderabad 

Contrary to popular belief, fruit and vegetable vendors are not self-employed but work for meagre daily wage. They are helpless and are a part of a huge network. Majority of them are paid anywhere between Rs 100-Rs 300 and a few make Rs 600- Rs 1,000 a day.

Most cannot afford to purchse in bulk, depend on other traders. Since fruits and vegetables are highly perishable in nature, they tend to quickly deteriorate if they are not sold within a day or two. Considering challenges like these and lack of permanent space for vending, storage facilities, multiple street vendors are often found working for a single owner who has a business. The majority of vendors also face many challenges, less or no profit and competition from other street vendors. They face intense competition both among each other and from new entrants, and their margin for survival remains precarious. 

Constant fear

Most set up carts at street corners, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) or traffic police citing foot-path encroachment, obstruction of traffic or lack of permits evict them. They also often shift places regularly to avoid being asked about licenses or to evict. Other vendors are self-employed, sourcing their own produce from wholesale markets like the Jambagh Market or BataSingaram market and setting their own profit margins. 

A vendor, Shantiram  from Jaipur works for an owner and stays put at Road No 11, near Budget Cars Road, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur. He arrives around 8 a.m. and leaves at 10 p.m working almost 13–14 hours a day. However, his wage fluctuates between Rs 150 and Rs 250 and sometimes falls below Rs 150 due to low sales. Online payment of the pineapples that customers do is not linked to my number but directly goes to the owner. Behind every pushcart and stack of colorful fresh fruits, is a workforce of migrants and workers hired on faith working on necessity with risks.