Beyond Skyscrapers: Building Inclusive Cities with Vibrant Street Markets

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" – the world is one family. This ancient Indian philosophy speaks to the interconnectedness of all beings, a principle that resonates deeply with the vision of inclusive urban development. Yet, the traditional narrative of urban progress often overlooks the vibrant informal communities that contribute so much to our cities. The narrative, centred on gleaming skyscrapers and economic growth, usually overlooks the vibrant informal communities that contribute significantly to our towns, telling us half the story. The true heart of urban India beats in its bustling informal markets, where the livelihoods of millions intertwine with a rich diversity of culture and resilience. Recognising this, the recent budget has heralded a paradigm shift, acknowledging the immense value of street vendors and the informal sector as engines of economic growth and cultural vibrancy. This new focus offers an opportunity to transform our cities into inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich environments.

The recent budget announcements have heralded a significant shift in this perspective by recognising the immense value of the informal sector and street vendors as game-changers. These individuals, often migrants from diverse backgrounds with unique skills and aspirations, play a crucial role in our urban fabric. The budget's focus on uplifting this sector aligns perfectly with an ambitious vision: A new scheme to support the development of 100 weekly 'haats' or street food hubs each year for the next five years in select cities, building on the success of the PM SVANidhi Scheme in transforming the lives of street vendors, is going to redefine urban landscapes and fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich environment. It's time to celebrate this diversity and tailor policies to their needs rather than overlooking or dismissing them.

Street vendors and market traders, the heartbeat of our cities, offer a rich embroidery of affordable goods and services, bringing life and energy to public spaces. They provide everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts and essential services. These vendors, often migrants with diverse backgrounds and aspirations, face significant challenges. They need formal recognition, secure workspaces, and basic amenities. Operating in the informal sector, they endure harsh weather conditions and remain vulnerable to exploitation. Yet, their diversity and resilience are invaluable assets that can fuel urban innovation and growth. The recent budget's focus on uplifting the informal sector is crucial to recognising their contributions. The proposed Street Markets initiative is a beacon of hope, reimagining urban spaces as inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable hubs. These markets aren't just infrastructure but dynamic ecosystems designed to empower vendors, celebrate cultural diversity, and create a more equitable urban future. This initiative is a commitment to transforming these unsung heroes from "invisible" to "invaluable." These markets should be viewed as:

Preserve and Celebrate Culture: Each market becomes a canvas for local traditions, crafts, cuisine, and performing arts, reinforcing the city's unique cultural identity.

Empower Livelihoods: Street vending, a crucial source of income for millions, finds a safe and regulated haven in these markets. Skill development and financial inclusion initiatives, like the PM SVANidhi scheme, to uplift vendors and enhance their economic resilience. Efforts should be made to streamline the registration process to ensure vendors can efficiently and legally operate within the markets, equip vendors with the necessary skills and technology to accept digital payments, expand their customer base, and connect them with the capital needed for business expansion and growth.

Foster Community and Belonging: Street markets naturally become social hubs, fostering interactions, strengthening community bonds, and promoting shared ownership and pride in the city.

Drive Climate Action: By prioritising local produce, minimising food miles, and encouraging sustainable practices, these markets contribute to a greener, more resilient urban environment.

Engage and Employ Youth:?Designed with young people's aspirations, these markets become incubators for entrepreneurship, creative expression, and job creation.

To achieve this vision of inclusive urban development, we must embrace a participatory planning model that actively involves local communities and vendors in decision-making processes. Rigid, top-down approaches must give way to flexible, participatory models involving local communities and vendors in decision-making processes. This approach ensures that the unique needs and perspectives of street vendors and informal workers are considered, leading to more effective and inclusive urban development.

Data-Driven Implementation: Data is essential in implementing this initiative and genuinely addressing the needs of informal communities. Existing data sources need more granularity and consistency for effective planning and decision-making. Therefore, collecting and integrating data from various sources, including community organisations, researchers, and residents, is imperative. Spatial data, like maps and GIS platforms, can visualise the distribution of street markets in a city.

Upgrading and Formalizing Informal Markets: Existing markets should be upgraded, and new, designated vending zones should be created. This would improve the working conditions of street vendors and integrate them into the formal economy, fostering a sense of legitimacy and belonging.

Ensuring Financial Inclusion: Expanding access to micro-credit and financial services is crucial. While initiatives like PM SVANidhi are promising, their reach and accessibility must be amplified to empower all vendors.

Investing in Skill Development: Tailored training programs for informal workers and street vendors can enhance their business acumen, hygiene practices, and customer service skills, increasing income and overall well-being.

Operation and Maintenance: The success of these markets hinges not only on their creation but also on their sustainable operation and maintenance. This involves participatory management models that include vendors and local communities in decision-making, capacity-building initiatives to enhance vendor skills, and data-driven insights to optimise market operations.

The budget also underscores the use of technology to empower street vendors and informal workers. However, technology isn't just a tool; it's a catalyst for inclusion, ensuring that no one is left behind in this urban transformation. Digital platforms and mobile applications can connect them to markets, financial services, and government schemes. Data collection on migrants and informal settlements is also crucial for targeted interventions and resource allocation. Initiatives such as PM SVANidhi, which provides micro-credit to street vendors, are steps in the right direction. The role of technology in these initiatives is not just supportive but crucial. It's essential to ensure that these initiatives are accessible, user-friendly, and reach the most vulnerable populations, and technology can play a significant role in achieving this.

The Street Markets initiative marks a paradigm shift in our approach to urban development. It is a call to embrace diversity, empower livelihoods, and create cities that are not just economically prosperous but also socially inclusive, culturally vibrant, and environmentally sustainable. By focusing on the needs of all citizens, including the often-overlooked informal sector, we can build a more resilient and equitable urban future. This new narrative celebrates diversity, empowers livelihoods, and fosters a stronger sense of community, ultimately leading to a more resilient and equitable urban future. As urbanisation increasingly takes hold in smaller towns, these emerging urban areas can serve as ideal testing grounds for implementing and refining the Street Markets initiative. This approach allows for localised experimentation and adaptation, ensuring the markets are tailored to each region's needs and cultural contexts. However, inclusive urban development extends beyond economic empowerment. It encompasses access to essential services like healthcare, sanitation, and affordable housing. Recognising them as key players in local economic development, exploring innovative financing models and addressing their socio-economic mobility needs is essential for their well-being. The journey from "invisible to invaluable" requires participative governance, a strong collaboration between the Centre and State Governments, and strengthening of the delivery mechanisms of government interventions to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.