Abstract
As India approaches its 2047 centennial of independence, the idea of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) is gaining prominence in national discussions. This research paper explores how street vendors perceive the PM SVA-Nidhi Scheme and its significance in reaching this objective. Street vending plays a crucial role in the economy of urban India, but it faces obstacles due to inadequate regulatory enforcement. The scheme was launched to support vendors by providing loans aimed at their overall growth and economic advancement. The study involved face-to-face interviews with 125 street vendors to explore their views on the scheme and the financial difficulties they encounter. The study's data analysis, findings, recommendations, and suggestions are valuable for policy-making and long-term decision-making by municipal corporations and the Central and State Governments. This recommends the framework approach for qualitative policy research, revealing that a more precise understanding of street vending requires integrating various explanations. The PM SVA Nidhi initiative faced bureaucratic inefficiencies, suggesting adequate management and collaboration with social partners may remedy the weaknesses of current legislation and guarantee street vendors their constitutional rights.
Keywords: PM-SVA Nidhi Scheme, Street Vendors, Viksit Bharat 2047, Citizen Participation, Financial Inclusion
1. Introduction
1.1 Transformative Aspirations: Navigating India's Path to Economic Prosperity in 2024
The year 2024 represents a significant turning point in India's political scene, capturing global interest as the nation gears up for a vital election. This election coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Amrit Kaal' initiative, which seeks to elevate India from a developing to a developed country, targeting the establishment of a $30-trillion economy. Modi's vision, termed "Viksit Bharat" or Developed India, serves as a comprehensive framework for advancing the nation's economic, social, and technological landscapes. Central to this vision is the aim of fostering an inclusive economy that allows all citizens to engage and reap the benefits. The government promotes a pro-business climate through initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Startup India, striving to alleviate poverty and maximize India's economic capabilities. Infrastructure is vital to this initiative, with significant investments in transportation, urban development, and digital infrastructure. Major initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana demonstrate the government's commitment to sustainable development and better living conditions. Additionally, social welfare programs such as Ayushman Bharat and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aim to empower marginalized communities and improve access to essential services. Environmental sustainability is also prioritized, with programs aimed at renewable energy and water conservation. Ultimately, Modi's vision integrates technology to enhance governance and service delivery, showcasing India's progress in various sectors and its potential for future growth on the global stage.
1.2 Highlighting the Vital Role of Street Vendors in Urban India
Street vending is acknowledged as an important and valued profession in urban settings, enabling individuals to sell commodities in public spaces. Vendors typically set up in high-traffic commercial areas, such as railway and bus stations. They are crucial to India's informal urban economy, providing affordable, quality products to consumers from diverse income groups, including the urban poor. Their offerings include clothing, leather goods, and household items, often sourced from small-scale or home-based industries that employ many workers. Nevertheless, street vendors in India face various challenges, such as financial difficulties, Lack of social safety measures, gender disparities, safety issues, and a range of regulatory and political hurdles that vary by city. Although the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014 aims to protect their rights, its implementation by local authorities has been inadequate, leading to governance challenges for both public agencies and vendors (India Code, 2014).
Despite these obstacles, street vendors continue to play a vital role in the Indian economy. They account for more than half of the nation's income, contributing 63% to the GDP and representing a population of ten million (MoHUA, 2014). In summary, street vendors are a crucial aspect of India's urban economy, and initiatives aimed at enhancing their livelihoods can benefit the country's economic growth and development. They are the ones with whom we interact and need them daily. While we happen to interact with them daily, we at times tend to overlook their sheer entrepreneurial skills and business acumen. It is intriguing to know that, without much formal education or being funded by angel investors, they run their businesses. The saying ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ feels apt in their case, since the necessity is to earn money and make a living that leads to novel ways of customer attraction and distinguishing themselves from the competitors. Enough said, the business model upon which the street vendors function, strategize, and execute their businesses produces the greatest learnings for the new and aspiring entrepreneurs.
1.3 Integrating Street Vendors into Viksit Bharat: Empowerment, Participation, and Policy Challenges
This section places street vendors within the context of the Viksit Bharat framework, highlighting their essential economic role in urban environments. Their inclusion in formal initiatives such as the PM SVA Nidhi scheme aligns with the objectives of Viksit Bharat, emphasizing the significance of citizen engagement in policy-making. The scheme supports street vendors by offering vital financial resources, facilitating their active participation in the economy, and embodying a grassroots approach to policymaking. Additionally, exploring citizen engagement entails assessing how street vendors view government programs like the PM SVA Nidhi scheme. Gaining insight into these perceptions provides important information about the effectiveness of these policies and their relevance to citizens' needs, highlighting the significance of participatory governance. Feedback from street vendors serves as a crucial mechanism for shaping future policy decisions, aligning with Viksit Bharat's vision of inclusive governance, where citizen voices are valued in policy formulation. Additionally, addressing obstacles and challenges is essential, particularly the bureaucratic inefficiencies that hinder vendors from benefiting from the scheme. By identifying these challenges, the research can propose actionable recommendations to enhance citizen participation in governance, such as streamlining application processes and improving communication between government agencies and street vendors. This research ultimately underscores the role of citizen engagement in governance through the experiences of street vendors with the PM SVA Nidhi scheme, reinforcing the idea that empowering marginalized groups is essential for realizing the vision of a developed India and achieving sustainable economic growth.
1.4 Empowering Urban Livelihoods: The Role of PM SVA Nidhi in Achieving Viksit Bharat 2047
The PM SVA Nidhi Scheme plays an essential role in the Viksit Bharat initiative, which seeks to position India as a developed nation by 2047. This program is dedicated to assisting street vendors by offering financial support to enhance their livelihoods and help them transition into the formal economy. The scheme's impact on this vision can be outlined as follows:
i. Financial Support: The Prime Minister Street Vendor's Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme offers collateral-free loans of up to ₹10,000; allowing vendors to either rejuvenate or expand their trade. Recent data indicates that more than 57 lakh beneficiaries have accessed loans through this initiative, highlighting its role in promoting economic independence.
ii. Income Enhancement: Participants in the PM SVA Nidhi scheme have reported significant increases in their annual earnings, with some vendors gaining an additional ₹23,000 per year. This financial boost is essential for many who previously struggled to secure formal credit.
1.5 Integration into Development Initiatives
i. Linkages with Other Programs: The PM SVA Nidhi scheme operates within a larger framework designed to ensure that welfare initiatives effectively reach grassroots communities. During the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which engaged over 10 crores of participants, many vendors and marginalized groups were directly linked to various government services.
ii. Saturation Approach: The initiative employs a saturation strategy to guarantee that all eligible individuals benefit from developmental programs. This approach encompasses not only financial aid but also health services and access to other social welfare initiatives.
2. Review of Literature
Adapting and Thriving: Vendor Resilience Post-Pandemic
The global outbreak had a profound effect globally, especially on economies and people's livelihoods. After the "self-imposed lockdown" on March 22, 2020, the Indian administration enforced strict Curfew Restrictions that impacted all sectors of society. In spite of the pandemic, local governments relied on vendors to maintain a continuous stock of crucial commodities, like groceries, in urban areas and their outskirts (Maniktala and Jain, 2021). In June 2020, a second lockdown was imposed, and many street vendors were found to have contracted COVID-19. Asymptomatic vendors were considered to be super-spreaders, leading health experts and local authorities to prohibit them from vending to control the virus's transmission. The ban adversely affected the earnings and livelihoods of street vendors throughout India, as consumers became wary of buying from them due to worries about hygiene standards. Consequently, numerous street vendors had to close their businesses, resulting in stagnant incomes and increased reliance on community support, government assistance, and a few charitable organizations that provided them with necessities. The primary obstacle for street vendors was to resume their businesses since they had used up most of their savings and loans to survive during the pandemic. To resume their trade work, they needed WC, which included purchasing intermediate goods to start afresh in many cases.
2.1 Empowering Vendors: A Guide to the PM SVA Nidhi Scheme
In July 2020, the Indian government launched the scheme to provide Working Capital (WC) to street vendors. This unique micro-credit program was designed to assist street vendors by offering them a WC loan of Rs 10,000 @ 7% APR from various banks and non-banking FIs throughout the country. The PM SVA Nidhi scheme defines a vendor as any person who engages in the trade of commodities, edibles, and mundane stock or provides facilities to the community on a road, boardwalk, roadway, etc., from an impermanent composition or by migrating. The products and facilities provided by street vendors comprise groceries, perishables, fast food, beverages, bread, fabrics, handicrafts, stationery, pan shops, etc. The application process for the PM SVA Nidhi scheme is available both online through an online website and by furnishing a form at the nearest FIs and Banks. This scheme provides a chance for vendors to acquire working capital & restart businesses, which were severely impacted by the global outbreak and the subsequent nationwide curfews.
Table 1: Unveiling Key Aspects: Understanding the Scheme Essentials
Source: Authors’ Synthesis
2.2 Significance of Study
The insufficiency of legal protections & regulations for vendors has resulted in a deficit of targeted micro-credit programs aimed at enhancing their financial engagement. Although literature discusses various recommendations for uplifting street vendors, such as amending laws and providing lawful individuality, nothing definite has been done to acknowledge their financial shortcomings in the short term. In Delhi, there was no micro-loan initiative specifically for them. They are often itinerant to the town, and their papers are associated with their native state. Additionally, they may labor in other states in spite of having countrywide individuality papers, such as the Voter ID card, which serves as proof of identity but cannot be utilized for casting votes in a place other than where it is registered. This generates a state where they have to rely on alternative systems to prevailing formal clerical arrangements. They become member of the informal sector and are forced to commence their corresponding monetary structure that can help them in surviving and further expansion. To address this challenge, it is crucial to grasp the monetary needs of vendors and their perception about the primary government micro-credit initiative designed for them, the PM SVA NIDHI. Filling this gap can contribute to more effective financial inclusion strategies for street vendors, enabling them to obtain the capital necessary for business growth.
2.3 Research Goals: A Focus on Objectives
The main objectives of the research are outlined as follows:
i. Understanding the Perception and Experiences of Street Vendors in Delhi Regarding Prime Minister Street Vendor's Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme as Catalyst for Citizen Participation in Building Viksit Bharat 2047.
ii. Recognizing the financial difficulties encountered by street vendors.
The global outbreak led to significant income loss for the vendors, severely influencing their capacity to sustain themselves. In response, the PM SVA Nidhi Yojana was introduced as a dedicated micro-credit program, providing individual loans of Rs 10,000 as working capital to help them restart their vending operations and protect their livelihoods. This report seeks to examine the results of the scheme’s implementation on the lives of vendors and to explore how different agencies have complicated the process for the stakeholders instead of facilitating access.
The study surveyed 125 vendors from the North West zone of Delhi, which revealed that many vendors preferred to borrow money from friends and relatives rather than apply for the PM SVA Nidhi Yojana due to the lengthy loan sanction process and the complex documentation and procedures involved.
3. Research Methodology
• Participants: 125 Street vendors from North West Delhi were contacted as participants for the study. The participants belonged to the age group of 24-60 and above.
• Data Collection: This study gathered information through in-person interviews conducted over two months in June and July 2022, employing the Responsive Interviewing Technique. The survey included 125 street vendors engaged in four different occupations in the unorganized sector in India, namely street trade and informal waged work as house help, office help, or shop assistant. The study population consisted of individuals who were not well-educated and had limited familiarity with financial and policy-related subjects.
• Sampling Method: The participants were selected using a Maximum Variation Sampling method.
• Data Analysis: The research employs a qualitative approach using a combination of interviews and document analysis (Academic Articles, Government Reports, Policy Documents, and Indices) to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the scheme and its role in achieving the vision of ”Viksit Bharat 2047”. The responsive interviewing technique was employed during the interviews with street vendors to gain a nuanced and detailed view of their experiences. The research developed a case-centric thematic method for organizing and analysing qualitative data. The method involves generating codes and classifications based on transcripts of interviews with street vendors. The initial codes are grouped into broad categories, which then lead to the formation of initial themes. The coding matrix is validated by experienced researchers and revised as new insights emerge. The NVivo software is used for data management and analysis. The method helps to create descriptive and explanatory accounts of the data while staying true to the participants' descriptions. The framework approach is utilized to devise fundamental ideas, which are analysed about pre-existing literature and theoretical viewpoints.
Table 2: Variation Sampling for Selecting Street Vendors for Interviews
Source: Authors’ Synthesis
To finalize street vendors for the interview, the researchers used a maximum variation sampling technique, which involved selecting three different types of neighbourhoods commercial, housing, and industrial districts. From each type, one comparatively comfortable and one moderately underprivileged neighbourhood was chosen. To contrast commercial areas, Mangol Pur Khurd and Commercial Street were selected. In contrast, Karala and Ladpur were chosen as complementary housing areas where primarily females operated with hand carts, and vending was popular during daylight or night wanders of the residents. Finally, Wazirpur Industrial Area was selected as the contrasting industrial district for street vendors who primarily operated from movable hand carts.
4. Construction of the survey
During the interview process, the researchers asked questions to explore the street vendors' workplace structures, economic status, operational characteristics, socio-business environment, motivations, fears, and concerns. The survey questionnaire investigated whether the vendors were mobile or stationary, their work histories, socio-demographic characteristics such as their age, how long they had been vending, the type of goods and services they sold, their earnings and working hours, reasons for engaging in vending, and any concerns they had, such as having to pay bribes to operate. A field survey was conducted within the North West Zone of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, with a sample of 125 street vendors from different neighbourhood categories as mentioned in Table 2. The street vendors were interviewed to comprehend their perceptions and challenges pertaining to the PM SVA NIDHI scheme. Additionally, the researchers reviewed secondary sources such as news articles, YouTube videos, and research papers.
• Grouping Variables: The participants were separated into two groups according to their neighborhood types, which included commercial, residential, and industrial districts.
• Ethical Consideration: The participants were briefed about the study's objective and their rights as participants, and they gave their informed consent. To safeguard the participants' privacy, all data was kept confidential and anonymous.
5. Legal Aspect
Table 3: Government Policies related to Street Vendors
Source: Authors’ Synthesis
6. Empirical Evidences
The researcher is confident that the data analysis, facts, findings, recommendations, and suggestions from this project will be beneficial for policy-making and long-term decision-making in the following areas:
i. Municipal Corporations for creating a planned and secure urban environment.
ii. Indian manufacturers for ensuring a stable business landscape.
iii. The Central Government for fostering a robust economy.
iv. State Governments for promoting financial growth.
v. The Revenue Department for enhancing revenue generation.
7. Presentation and Evaluation of Gathered Information
7.1 Use of Interviews and Document Analysis
In policy research, information sources can be bifurcated into documents and people. For our research on street vendors, we used document analysis to design interviews and observational studies. Before conducting interviews, we referred to documents such as the reports on street vending acts and Town Vending Committee (TVCs) reports, which provided valuable background information. Both documents and observational data fulfill a crucial function in our research process, as they can either support or contradict each other. As a result, we chose to use a blended methodology that combined interviews and document analysis. In order to acquire a more thorough comprehension of a policy, we used a technique called "responsive interviewing" in combination with document analysis. This approach enables us to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the subject matter, which would not have been possible through interviews or document analysis alone.
7.2 Responsive Interviewing
In our interviews with street vendors to gain an understanding of their perceptions of policy, we utilized a technique called "responsive interviewing," as proposed by Herbert and Irene Rubin (2005). This approach is based on the interpretive constructionist philosophy and incorporates some elements of critical theory, while also taking practical considerations into account. Unlike a strictly positivistic approach, the responsive interviewing model is adaptable throughout the project, and the aim is not to arrive at definitive answers or truths, but rather to comprehend how the interviewee perceives and interprets their experiences.
7.3 Employing a case-centric thematic method for a streamlined data repository
Codes and classification were generated by evaluating every sentence, expression, or passage of the record as an approach to outline the perception and understanding of the street vendors. To begin, unpublished copies of the transcripts with significant expressions marked and appropriate comments as footnotes were utilized to incorporate inchoate thoughts. Keywords were encapsulated using street vendors' words in the Interview taken (in-vivo coding). The framework method suggested utilizing these codes derived from the data to maintain their authenticity, and classifications were created based on these codes. The process of generating a coding matrix began with the formation of initial ideas.
7.4 Developing and Validating a Thematic Framework for Data Analysis
To analyse the various experiences of vendors about the difficulties they faced while applying for the scheme and receiving the Letter of Recommendation (LOR), a coding matrix was created using fifteen interview transcripts. The coding matrix and its source transcripts underwent a review process by two experienced researchers to ensure the study's accuracy and reliability. Any changes made during the review process were recorded in a scholarly paper, and footnotes were added to the periphery of the coding matrix to provide additional context. The initial in vivo codes were grouped into broad categories, which then led to the formation of initial themes. These themes comprised the coding directory, which was used to organize the complete data. The coding index was revised as new insights emerged during the data analysis process.This analysis utilized NVivo, a qualitative data analysis software, to identify patterns in data. Initially, data was managed using hard-copy logs, which were later transmitted to NVivo. As data administration was processed, NVivo was utilized instinctively, with data being directly coded into the software. This allowed for the emergence of preliminary thoughts and associations between classifications and early compositions while maintaining relations to the initial data. While coding matrices can be developed employing Microsoft Word, it can be difficult and unwieldy when dealing with large volumes of data. Therefore, using the coding recovery and examination structures in NVivo was the foremost phase of a comprehensive investigation.
Table 4: Coding Index for Interview Analysis
7.5 Creating Descriptive and Explanatory Accounts for Qualitative Data Analysis
Qualitative analysis involves creating descriptive accounts by revising preliminary themes and classifications while staying true to the participants' descriptions. This is done by continuously referring back to the Initial transcripts and using NVivo exploration functions to identify significance conveyed through various Interviews. To develop abstract concepts, one must identify crucial aspects of the data and establish connections between various themes and concepts. Explanatory accounts, conversely, it is necessary to reflect upon the initial data and analytical processes to guarantee a precise portrayal of the experiences and beliefs of street vendors. This is important to reduce the risk of misinterpretation. To grasp the viewpoint and comprehension of a scheme among street vendors, the framework approach was utilized to devise three fundamental ideas: uncertainty, expertise acquisition, and leading a regular life. The application of this approach was specifically focused on the concept of uncertainty. The ultimate stages of this approach included analysing the ideas and themes by scrutinizing their association with the pre-existing literature and theoretical viewpoints to comprehend street vendors' experiences. In order to conduct a more insightful analysis of the data, a break was taken to review all transcripts in their entirety. The analysis process consisted of examining the data as a whole, individual participant accounts, and initial categories, in order to establish final categories and a conceptual framework that accurately portrays the experiences of the street vendors.
Table 5: Exploring Uncertainty: Developing Core Concepts and Final Themes in
7.6 Concluding Remarks on the Use of a Case-Centric Thematic Method and Framework Approach
According to experts, the framework approach can be highly beneficial for analysing data in qualitative policy research. For those who are new to qualitative research, it can provide a structured and straightforward path, as well as a case-centric thematic methodology of data analysis. This methodology can help researchers keep track of their decisions and ensure transparency and coherence amid the Initial themes and the resulting conclusions. By utilizing this approach, researchers can add rigor to the research process and enhance the validity of their results.
Figure1: Theme-Based Framework for Qualitative Scheme Analysis
Source: Authors’ Synthesis
8. Analysis (Dialogue)
Street vendors, who are taken into account as the most vulnerable section of the urban population, have been facing numerous challenges for a long time. They feel marginalized and excluded from society, with a negative observation of local urban org and state government. Due to the absence of any assistance from them. However, their perception of the PM scheme was positive, as it aimed to provide them with working capital and financial inclusion, which could help them reboot their livelihoods. The pandemic and the subsequent quarantine have severely affected all classes of the urban population, but street vendors have been hit the hardest, both financially and socially. The scheme aimed to pinpoint vendors, understand their socio-demographic profiles, and provide them with a pathway to a respectable livelihood. However, street vendors felt that complex & time-consuming processes and bureaucratic inefficiencies prevented them from benefiting from the scheme, despite its positive intentions. It's important to examine and understand the reasons the scheme failed to adequately reach and assist its target beneficiaries. We should explore methods to streamline the execution of special initiatives for vendors. So they feel included and secure, and their perception of the administration changes. This will help them move away from street vending and towards the organized sector, where they can expand, rather than simply survive.
9. Conclusion
Street vending is a significant and ancient arrangement of work found in nearly every major town and nation worldwide. The scheme aims to recognize street vendors, assess their social and economic circumstances, and provide them with a pathway to dignified livelihoods. However, bureaucratic inefficiencies and government barriers have hindered the program's effectiveness in benefiting its intended recipients. Experts suggest that employing a framework approach can enhance the validity of research results by offering a structured method for analyzing qualitative data in policy research. This study reveals that no single theory can uniformly apply to all street vendors; instead, a more nuanced understanding of this entrepreneurial activity requires integrating various perspectives. The legal landscape for street vendors in India is complex, involving interactions between vendors and the urban middle class. Enhancing the management of street vending and working together with key social partners can effectively tackle the limitations of current legislation, ensuring that vendors have their constitutional rights, protection, and the freedom to operate their businesses. The scheme plays a crucial role in vision for Viksit Bharat, as it not only promotes economic advancement for street vendors but also supports broader goals of inclusive development and social equity. By empowering grassroots individuals, this initiative makes a significant contribution to India's aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047. Additionally, exploring street vendors' perceptions on the scheme in the context of citizen engagement reveals important insights into how empowering marginalized communities can drive the objectives of Viksit Bharat and encourage more inclusive policymaking that prioritizes the voices of citizens.
9.1 Extended Research
Our study has facilitated significant discernment into the perceptions of street vendors towards the PM SVA Nidhi Scheme. However, we acknowledge that due to our limitations, there are several aspects that we wish could have been analyzed more comprehensively. Therefore, we suggest further research in this field to address these limitations.
Table 6: Future Directions
Source: Authors’ Synthesis
References
1. Adduci, M. Lo Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 come soluzione alla questione dello street vending.
2. Alekhina, V., & Ganelli, G. (2023). Determinants of inclusive growth in ASEAN. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 28(3), 1196-1228.
3. Alva, R. J. (2014). The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2013: Is the cure worse than the disease?. Statute Law Review, 35(2), 181-202.
4. Bandyopadhyay, R. (2012). A Critique of the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors in India, 2009.
5. Bhowmik, S. K. (2005). Street vendors in Asia: A review. Economic and political weekly, 2256-2264.
6. Bhowmik, S.K., & Saha, D. (2011). Financial accessibility of the street vendors in India: Cases of inclusion and exclusion. Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai-India.
7. Bhowmik, S.K., & Saha, D. (2012). Street vending in ten cities in India. Delhi National Association of Street Vendors of India.
8. Bromley, R. (2000). Street vending and public policy: A global review. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.
9. Chakraborty, P., & Koley, S. (2018). Socio-Economic View on Street Vendors: A Study of a Daily Market at Jamshedpur. Journal of Advanced Research in Humanities and Social Science, 5(1), 14-20.
10. Devi, A. (2019). A Study on the Awareness of BPMP Street Vendors Towards Government Schemes in Bengaluru. International Journal of Research in Engineering Science and Management.
11. Dhamodharan, K. PROBLEMS OF STREET VENDORS IN PONDICHERRY.
12. Doibale, M. K., Mohite, S. D., Sawase, G. B., & Pagadal, P. H. (2019). Study of sociodemographic profile and causes of street vending in urban area, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(9), 4005.
13. Government of India, Department of Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2004.
14. Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Nirman Bhavan, National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2009.
15. Hasan, M., & Alam, J. (2015). Street garment vendors’ contribution to the economy and local community: an empirical study of the street garment vendors in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. International Journal of Management and Business Research, 5(2), 129-139.
16. Huichun Huang, Junli Yuan, Guanghua Lin & Jing Chi (2023) Underestimation of financial literacy and financial market participation, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 28:1, 75-100, DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2020.1865249
17. Isaac, I., & Sanusi, Y. A. (2020). Impacts of physical planning regulations on street trading livelihood: Street traders’ right to the city perspective. In the International virtual conference on: Critical issues and challenges to sustainable development in Africa. Held at the faculty of social sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka on 27th and 28th October.
18. Joshi, A., & Reddy, V. (2022). Study of perceptions among street vendors of Ahmedabad on “Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme 2020 (PM-SVA Nidhi Yojana)”-Special micro-credit program for street vendors. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 374-380.
19. Kiran, P. N., & Babu, G. N. P. V. (2019). Problems and prospects of street vendors: a study with reference to Visakhapatnam city. International Journal of Management, Technology and Engineering, 9(6), 2249-7455.
20. Lok Sabha Secretariat (LARRDIS) New Delhi BACKGROUND NOTE on “Implementation of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014”, 2020
21. Mahadevia, D., Vyas, S., & Mishra, A. (2014). Informal economy monitoring study: Street vendors in Ahmedabad, India. Manchester, United Kingdom: Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing.
22. Mander, H. (2012). Reclaiming the city for street vendors. The Hindu.
23. Maniktala, N., & Jain, T. (2021). State of street vendors in India: pre- and post-COVID-19 analysis. Int J Policy Sci Law, 1(2).
24. Masagus M. Ridhwan, Asep Suryahadi, Jahen F. Rezki & Dinda Thalia Andariesta (2023) The impact of COVID-19 on the labour market and the role of E-commerce development in developing countries: Evidence from Indonesia, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2023.2195710
25. Meher, S., Ranjan, A., Tamgire, L., & Shukla, P. (2020). ‘It is lockdown, but homes are not closed. Income has been shut down, but expenses continue: Impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 on the livelihood of Street Vendors in Maharashtra.
26. Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. Publication in The Gazette of India, 5 marzo 2014, parte II, sezione I, New Delhi. Naik Abhayraj, 2014. "Contextualising Urban Livelihoods: Street Vending in India", NASVI
27. Ray, C. N. (2017). Urban informal sector, urbanisation and street vendors in Gujarat. Lulu.com.
28. Rizwana, M., Singh, P., & Raveendra, P. V. (2021). Promoting Financial Inclusion through Digital Wallets: An Empirical Study with Street Vendors. In Financial Inclusion in Emerging Markets (pp. 281-293). Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
Education is a key driver of national development, enabling individual empowerment and societal transformation. Despite progress toward universal education in India, significant challenges such as socioeconomic, geographic, and gender disparities continue to limit equitable access to quality learning.
When citizens actively express their views and participate in governance, it drives national progress by aligning government actions with public needs. India has a long history of such participation, dating back to the Vedic era, though it was disrupted by invasions.
This article presents a case study on the development of railroads in India during British rule (1845–1924), focusing on the unique relationship between ownership and control that gave rise to freestanding companies stand-alone firms based on foreign direct investment.
E-transportation is emerging as a game changer in the travel and tourism industry, offering sustainable mobility solutions that reduce carbon emissions while enhancing the overall travel experience. This paper explores its advantages such as smoother journeys, improved access to offbeat destinations, and eco-friendliness alongside challenges like limited charging infrastructure, high costs, range anxiety, and slow technology adoption.
It is well well-known fact that Fat self-ignites at 760 Degree celsius. Using this fact, a group of environmentalists has tried an experiment of building Low- low-cost green Crematoriums, which save over 440 kg of wood per cremation (reducing from 500 kg of wood used in open cremation to just 60 kg in green crematoriums).
Ecological issues give birth to environmental discourses on human-nature interaction worldwide, which ultimately reinforce the need for environmental sustainability. In the globalization era, environmental security has become one of the key security issues, especially for the countries in the Global South.
The objective of the study is to analyse the socio-economic impact of the two sewage treatment plants using Cost-Benefit Analysis to compare the costs and benefits of the two plants. The aim is to comprehend the economic, health, environmental, and ecological impact of these sewage treatment plants.
The article delves into the complexities of insider trading, particularly in the context of circumstantial evidence and evolving technological challenges. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) faces significant hurdles in prosecuting insider trading due to encrypted communications, lack of jurisdiction over extraterritorial offenses, and reliance on indirect evidence.
General Purpose Technologies (GPTs), such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Cloud Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), are transforming various sectors, including public administration. These technologies hold the potential to create more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centered government operations.
This study critically examines the Jhar-Jal Portal, an ambitious state-led digital governance initiative deployed in Jharkhand, India, as an empirical site for exploring the intersection of technological innovation and participatory water governance in the Global South.
Spurred by the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the present study attempts to achieve the goal of presenting a pathway for evidence-based decision-making by conceptualising a framework for building a unified Data Exchange Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), christened by the authors as ‘जिला डेटा मंच’ ( Jila Data Manch, JDM).
Viksit Bharat seeks to convert India into a developed country by 2047, focusing on economic prosperity, social welfare, and sustainable environmental practices. With India nearing its 100th anniversary of independence in 2047, the idea of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) is becoming more central to national conversation.
The integration of women into the Indian Defence Forces marks a significant stride toward gender inclusivity and operational efficiency. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for women in the Indian Armed Forces, focusing on cultural, institutional, and operational barriers that hinder their natural progress.
This paper examines the evolving role of leadership in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), emphasising the need for adaptive and integrative leadership to address the contemporary complexities such as political dynamics, financial and regulatory frameworks; and social and cultural challenges.
This sentiment lies at the heart of ease of living. The concept of ease of living has emerged as a vital yardstick to judge whether growth translates into better lives. It goes beyond GDP numbers, probing how easily a student reaches school, how safely a woman returns home at night, how affordably a family accesses water, healthcare and housing.
The measure of a nation’s progress is no longer captured in the rise and fall of its GDP. It is written instead in the rhythms of daily life: whether families feel secure in their homes, whether clean water runs from a tap, whether old age comes with dignity, and whether young people believe the future holds opportunity.
India has surpassed France and the UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world with a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimated to be around $ 3.12 trillion for FY22. For the fiscal year 2022-23, a healthy growth rate of approximately 7% is anticipated.
This paper offers an integrated digital drone-based services solution for cities & towns, controlled through an integrated smart control room and/or where users may call in for support of required service, on a time-sharing basis; charged according to No of drones, payload, distances and time calculations.
This paper covers the health benefits of cycling and how it has a positive impact on the environment. It examines the Dutch model of the development of cycling, how it may be adapted to Indian conditions, and help to overcome the barriers to cycling, in the Indian context.
The transformation of the lives of rural women towards their betterment is a critical issue in the development process of countries around the world. Poverty, lack of financial awareness, minimal or no education, and women's disempowerment are reasons for the poor condition of rural women.
In India, the procedure of shifting the paradigm for good governance has been dynamic and continuing. A notion known as "good governance" includes a number of rules and procedures designed to guarantee the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of governmental institutions.
Administration of independent India drewn many transformations to get away from British colonial administration that propagates the colonial need such as maintenance of law and order, collection of revenue, tactics to hold the administrative power in British civil servants.
The twenty-first century should be an era of new forms of Governance different from what we have seen in the past. Due to widespread economic problems and fiscal constraints in the 1980's, governments around the world both rich and poor, concluded that government had become too big, too costly and ineffective.
The concept of ‘governance’ is not new. It is as old as human civilization. It has over the years gained momentum and a wider meaning. Apart from being an instrument of public affairs management, or a gauge of political development, governance has become a useful mechanism to enhance the legitimacy of the public realm.
In India, the paradigm of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is proving to be transformative as it attempts to balance the intricate relationships between sustainable resource utilisation, forest regeneration, and conservation. India, which has about 70 million hectares of forest cover, struggles to meet the socioeconomic demands of the people who depend on the forests while also protecting these ecosystems.
A long-term abutting weather situation that is particularly related to temperature and precipitation is called climatic change. Land-use changes, forest fires, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and natural disasters like volcanic eruptions are all possible contributing factors to this Climate shift (Reddy, 2015).
The Yamuna is a tributary of the holy Ganges. The main stream of the Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier at Bandar Panch (38°59'N, 78°27'E) in the Mussoorie Ranges of the lower Himalayas, at an average altitude of about 6387 meters above sea level in the Uttarkashi district (Uttrakhand) increase.
The issue of governance has received serious attention of researchers, policy makers, administrators and the national as well as international community. The New Public Management (NPM) concept is focused on service, quality, performance management and risk management of governance processes.
The government provides services including healthcare, education, social support, and financial inclusion to the public. However, villagers and citizens in remote areas often struggle to access these services due to several constraints including inadequate infrastructure and inaccessibility.
Digital governance, in the context of the digital era, involves the use of information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance and transform the delivery of public services, improve government efficiency, and engage citizens in decision-making processes.
Since the majority of India's population relies on agriculture for their living, the sector dominates the country's economy. Agriculture only makes up less than 20 per cent of the nation's GDP (Ministry of Finance, 2018), emphasizing the sector's low-income production.
E-commerce and digital technology have transformed the way people spend and save. There is an evident technological growth in the world of finance which is referred to as financial technology or fintech. Financial technology (Fintech) refers to the technological innovations that assist in enabling or improving the access to financial services digitally through the internet, smartphones or computers.
Today we are living in an era of the ‘regulatory state’. The expressions ‘regulation’, ‘regulatory governance’ and ‘regulatory institutions’ have become the buzzwords of governance and are spread across social systems as well as state organisations and government strategies.
Participatory planning involves the intensive participation of local communities in analysing their current situation, envisioning a long-term collective future and attempting to attain this vision through collective planning of development interventions that would be implemented by different state agencies area.
Intrinsically, India is a republican country that is organised as a federation with a parliamentary democracy. Similar to the United Kingdom, the President serves as the head of state in name only; in contrast, the Prime Minister is the de facto executive, or real head of the government.
With over eight thousand years of experience and intellectual growth (Cameron (1968), Edwards (Gadd, 1971), Hammond (1971), Eisenstadt (1963, 1993), Olmstead ( 1948), etc.), public administration has undergone numerous changes and transformations over its long history, but it has never been so challenged as in the last thirty years.
A paradigm represents a framework, viewpoint, or collection of concepts that serves as a lens for understanding various subjects. In disciplines like science and philosophy, paradigms encompass specific theories, methodologies, and principles defining valid contributions within a field.
The field of public administration is experiencing a dramatic and rapid change. Locally and globally, some of the most significant trends that will have the role and function of public administrators is rapidly evolving as the needs and demands of citizens, governments and organisations influence their ability to create and implement policies.
Public administration in the 21st century is undergoing significant transformation, not just in advanced countries but also in various regions of the developing world, as the calls for transformative change grow louder. These changes are propelled by globalisation, liberalisation and the diversification of service provision.
In an era where administrative agility defines the efficacy of democratic governance, this chapter, “Techniques of Administrative Improvement”, offers a comprehensive exploration of transformative tools, methods, and strategies that are reshaping public administration in India and globally.
The rapid pace and interdependence of global, political, social and economic developments have necessitated a critical need for improved efficiency and effective public institutions, administrative procedures and sound financial management to confront challenges for sustainable development in all countries.
The evolution of Indian administration reflects a historical continuum shaped by civilizational values and transformative changes. Spanning the Mauryan, Mughal, and British eras, each phase contributed distinct institutional structures and governance philosophies.
As an initial output of the joint research between the Korean Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) and the National Academy of Governance (NAOG), this article provides overviews of the Korean and Mongolian legislative environment, governance and characteristics of the anti-corruption policies.
Administrative improvement is a strategic necessity in a fast-paced world. Techniques like O&M, Work Study, management aid tools such as network analysis form the cornerstone of efficient governance. MIS, PERT, and CPM tools equip administrators with the ability to anticipate challenges, and drive organizational success in an increasingly complex environment.
Street vendors are an integral part of the urban informal economy in India, providing essential goods and service that cater to the diverse needs of city residents. They operate in various capacities, from food vendors to artisans, and play a crucial role in enhancing the vibrancy and accessibility of urban life.
This paper examines the critical role of communication in driving India's economic growth within the context of its diverse societal structure and the rapidly evolving information age. It argues that effective communication is not merely a tool for disseminating information but a fundamental force shaping development trajectories.
One often wonders ‘what the government does’ and ‘why the government does what it does’ and equally importantly ‘what it does not do and why so’. According to Thomas R. Dye “public policy is whatever government chooses to do or not to do”, implying that government's actions and inactions both come into the realm of public policy.
Access to safe drinking water is not merely a fundamental human right; it is a cornerstone of public health, economic development, and social equity. In rural India, where water scarcity and inadequate infrastructure pose significant challenges, the quest for reliable water supply becomes even more critical.
This paper outlines the century-long history of Mongolia’s civil service training institution, the National Academy of Governance (NAOG), which plays a crucial role in meeting the contemporary needs of training and developing human resources within the civil service sector.
India stands at a crucial juncture in its quest for inclusive development that will bring prosperity across the spectrum. Large amounts of public funds are spent to address these issues, but their implementation and the quality of services delivered leave much to be desired.
India has committed to achieving developed nation status by the centenary of its independence, leveraging cutting-edge technologies including AI tapping into its vast human capital, and implementing policies that foster high growth while addressing enduring social and economic inequalities.
This article explores the value and statehood of Mongolia by utilising Woodrow Wilson’s categorisation of “Judging by the constitutional histories of the chief nations of the modern world, there may be three periods of growth through which government has passed in all the most highly developed of existing systems, and through which it promises to pass in all the rest.
This paper examines India's economic trajectory through the lens of its demographic dividend a substantial youth population exceeding 50% under age 25 within its 1.4 billion citizens. While this demographic advantage offers unprecedented economic potential, its promise is threatened by systemic challenges including inadequate education access, limited skill development, and employment scarcity, particularly in rural areas.
Remarkable technological and scientific progress has made the modern democratic State not a mere watch-dog or a police institution but an active participant interfering in almost every sphere of individual and corporate life in society in the changed role of a service state and a welfare state
Since the reform and opening up, China’s leadership training has experienced three stages of development: the initial stage of leadership training and development in the early period of China’s reform and opening up to the world (1978-2002), the rapid growing stage of leadership training and development in the period of fast growing economy and society (2002- 2012) and the innovative…
Accountability and control are essential for efficient, ethical administration in public and private sectors. Accountability ensures officials answer for actions and resource use, while control involves mechanisms to monitor compliance with laws and goals, promoting responsibility and preventing misconduct.
Healthcare in rural India presents unique challenges and opportunities. While global health metrics emphasize indicators like life expectancy, mortality rates, and healthcare infrastructure, they often fail to capture the socio-cultural nuances of rural communities
The “Internet plus” government service reform in China has progressed through three stages, namely one-stop service, one-window service, and companion service. This reform has become a significant example of reshaping the relationship between the local government and the public.
This paper explores the evolution of Indian welfare philosophy from Gandhi's nonviolent resistance to contemporary governance. It traces how the sacrifices of Indian revolutionaries fostered Sarvodaya and Antyodaya ideals, examining the philosophical underpinnings of these concepts in Advaita and dualistic traditions.
Like most other countries around the world, after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh's education system has undergone a radical change from the beginning of March 2020 onwards. The study attempts to analyse teachers’, students’ and parents’ perceptions and experiences about the online education in the COVID-19 pandemic at the school level.
Health is a fundamental human right and a critical indicator of development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the importance of ensuring health and well-being for all individuals. A key objective of this agenda is to guarantee favorable health outcomes, underscored by the endorsement of a new declaration during the Global Conference on Primary Health Care held in Astana,…
In this article, published reports have been used for analysing state-wise status of SDGs achievements and their correlations with attainments in areas of poverty-reduction and other developmental indicators. Also, progress made by GPs on various metrics related to SDGs has been corroborated with other relevant metrics
Loss of governance reform efficacy is an identified entrenched institutional problem in systems. Reform, anywhere, is a sticky material because holders of powers and their cronies have rarely shown altruistic intentions of relaxing their profiteering grips over resources.
On September 1, 2023, a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind explored the possibility of something called One Nation, One Election in India and ever since this thing has come out in public, political parties all across the country have been fuming with anger.
This paper examines various initiatives taken by Government of India to promote collaborative governance in various sectors. With increasing needs and aspirations of the community for public services and the limited capacity of government to provide the same, the involvement of various stakeholders to deliver these services becomes important and necessity.
In the vast and diverse landscape of India, regional disparities in development have long posed significant challenges to achieving equitable growth and social justice. Recognizing the urgent need to address these disparities, the Government of India launched the Aspirational Districts Programme in January 2018.
A dynamic interaction between the recognition of human complexity in organizations and the pursuit of structural efficiency has shaped the evolution of administrative philosophy. The foundational works of Frederick W. Taylor, Max Weber, Mary Parker Follett, Elton Mayo, Chester Barnard, Rensis Likert, Chris Argyris, and Douglas McGregor are critically examined in this essay, which charts the shift from traditional administrative…
In India, National Training Policy was formed in 2012, replacing the old policy of 1996. This was needed two reasons, new areas of administration given in the reports of second administrative reforms commission setup in 2005 and changing environment in different spheres of governance and new challenges of administration being faced by the civil servants.
India's emergence as a global services powerhouse in the 21st century marks a profound and transformative shift. This evolution, far from a mere economic change, is a strategic leap driven by its demographic dividend, technological advancements, and the burgeoning global demand for specialized services.
Public administration, as the executive arm of the state, has tremendous responsibilities to match the needs and aspirations of the citizens of the state. The systems have evolved over the years in almost every country as the politico and socio-economic environment of the respective country have changed.
Public administration is the cornerstone of modern governance. It refers to the organization, management, and implementation of government policies and programs, carried out by public officials and institutions. As a vital mechanism of the state, public administration not only ensures the effective delivery of services to citizens but also upholds the principles of accountability, transparency, and rule of law.
Tribal Sustainable Development through Evidence-based Policy and Planning: A major issue in post-Independence India has been a misreading of demands of tribal communities. What they have been demanding pertains to choice upholding their traditions and customs and having ownership over natural resources
As the Idiom of technological advancement takes its toll. The paper highlights a few poignant and emerging factors in the International Relations theorization. It was conservatively maintained by the defense strategists and the political leadership across the Global polity that foreign policy and the Diplomacy are greatly determined by the “given” of Geography and terrain
With the deepening of democracy, increased decentralisation, increasing social and political awareness, digital penetration, shifts in demography, demand for quality services by common citizens has been accelerating at a faster pace. In such a scenario, the role of State is critical for promoting equity in access to services.
"Accelerating India's Development" holistically looks at India’s growth trajectory since gaining independence – it rounds up all where it has done well including unity, upholding the integrity of its constitution, retaining democratic values at its core. It also does not mince words to convey where all the nation has faltered such as falling short in delivery of public services including…
Income and Employment Intensive Growth Agenda for India: The paper examines income and employment status in the Indian labour force to identify policy attention and follow up. The macroeconomic policies taken during last one decade are yielding positive results leading to expansion of manufacturing and services and structural transformation in the economy.
An Analysis of India's Social Welfare Programs: In a democracy, the state's role is to promote societal welfare. According to Aristotle, the state should not only ensure its survival but also improve the quality of life for its citizens. The state has a moral responsibility to its citizens. Modern views agree that the state should provide essential services like education,…
Digital Innovations in Social Protection: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions: The integration of digital technologies into social protection systems represents a transformative shift with profound implications for the delivery of welfare services. This chapter explores the evolving landscape of digital innovations in social protection, contextualising these developments within the broader framework of universal social protection and a systemic approach to welfare.
One of the most crucial aspects of our society is law enforcement, which deals with issues of law and order nationwide. It is an essential component of the state's legal system. The British government introduced a Police Act in 1861, which is still very relevant and based on policing.
India’s Vision for 2047 aims to transform the nation into a developed country, with healthcare being pivotal for this progress. Achieving universal health coverage and modernising healthcare infrastructure are essential for fostering a healthy productive population, which in turn drives economic growth and reduces poverty.
Several challenges linger in the Indian education system, like rote learning, the non-existence of practical skills among students, and disparities in access to quality education. To deal with the criticism for excessive curriculum and unreasonable focus on rote learning, this chapter examines the strategies comprising the building blocks to reform Indian schools.
Social development is expected to promote holistic improvement of individuals, institutions and their surrounding environments. Looking at the pace of development in India, the economy of most states requires strategic prioritization to accelerate improved well-being of the people. Accessibility to health, school education and public security are critical to the edifice of social development.
India is the largest democracy in the world inhabited by about 1.36 billion people over an area of 3287 thousand square kilometers according to an estimate for 2021 based on Census 2011. The Indian economy is characterised as a middle-income emerging market economy. In the last three decades the economy has faced three major crises, i.e., balance of payment crisis…
Neoliberal policies pursued by India since 1990s have created a space for private enterprises hitherto occupied by the state entities, unshackled the existing enterprises and introduced reforms to facilitate private initiative. This chapter looks into the ecosystem of the private sector in general and the developments in three specific sectors- urban mobility, water supply and housing, to draw lessons for…
This Chapter highlights the gradual transformation from Personnel Administration to Strategic Human Resource Management over the years in Government of India. However, there is still a long way to go. In this Chapter an attempt has been made to delineate the criticality to move towards Strategic HRM in Government of India to achieve India’s developmental goals.
Robust statistical data forms the cornerstone of an informed governance system. This paper studies the statistical system and data dissemination in the Centre and State governments in India, and the measures put in action to accelerate the data dissemination process. Arguing that the availability of high-frequency statistical data is a necessary condition for good governance, the first section of the…
In the Amrit Kaal (golden period) of independent India, the ‘citizen first’ approach guides public governance by deepening the outreach of service delivery mechanism so that international standards could be achieved in India@100. The goal can only be achieved by all inclusive governance involving stronger and effective local self-governments both panchayats and municipalities.
In modern societies, with the increasing role of the state in social and economic fields, emphasis on the quality of its governance is of prime concern to all. Indian bureaucratic system of governance is founded on the principle of rule of law, as the state power is divided amongst three chief organs, each has the its own quality under a…
This paper discusses the concept of good governance and its relations with the electoral politics in Indian context. It highlights the various strategies employed by the government and related agencies for the growth and development of the country. Major reforms pertaining to the country’s infrastructure, IT, administration, economy and public services are a few areas that have been explored in…
With the Indian government’s vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, marking hundred years of independence, it has become of highest importance to learn from the past, tenaciously work in the present and step towards the future with complete efficiency. In its 77 years of becoming a democracy, India has soared high with continuous transformations marked by both…
The vision of Viksit Bharat can be realised through Viksit States, and that the aspiration of Viksit Bharat should reach the grassroot level i.e. to each district, block, and village. For this, each State and District should create a vision for 2047 so as to realise Viksit Bharat @ 2047.