By Akangjungla
Street vendors in Nagaland, particularly women, are enduring the dual burdens of climate change and neglect. Their struggles often came to the forefront during the observance of International Street Vendors Day or as and when the media cover their stories. Vendors from Dimapur and Chümoukedima have shared accounts of how extreme weather and policy failures are crippling their livelihoods. The stories they tell are not just about economic hardship but also about resilience in the face of a changing environment and an indifferent system.
The impact of climate change on street vendors is undeniable. A local vendor shared of how soaring temperatures in Dimapur and Chümoukedima are causing perishable goods, especially vegetables, to spoil rapidly, leading to significant financial losses. Beyond the economic toll, the health of vendors is at risk, with many suffering from heat exhaustion after hours of exposure to the sun. The unpredictability of weather patterns, coupled with harmful agricultural practices like excessive pesticide use, has further destabilized their already precarious livelihoods. These challenges highlight the urgent need for adaptive strategies, such as climate-resilient market infrastructure and access to storage facilities that can mitigate losses.
However, climate change is only part of the problem. The lack of effective policy implementation aggravates their struggles. The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, was designed to safeguard vendors’ rights; however, its execution in Nagaland has been uninspiring. The Town Vending Committees (TVCs), which are supposed to represent vendors’ interests, remain largely inactive. A Dimapur based former leader of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), has pointed out that despite the state adopting the Act in 2019, vendors have seen little meaningful engagement from authorities. Even when vendors are nominally included in TVCs, their voices are often sidelined and meetings are infrequent. This bureaucratic disinterest leaves vendors without a platform to advocate for their rights and gradually perpetuating into a cycle of neglect.
The demands of street vendors are not overstated. They are seeking basic dignities that should be guaranteed in any just society. Women vendors, who dominate this sector also emphasises the need for gender-sensitive policies, including their inclusion in urban planning processes. These measures are not just about improving working conditions but about recognizing street vending as a legitimate and fundamental part of the economy.
So far, the government seems to recognise the challenges faced by vendors; however, the progress remains elusive. The vendors need assurance in the form of shaded vending zones, access to affordable healthcare, enforcement of policies that protect vendors from harassment and eviction etc. Moreover, climate adaptation strategies must be integrated into urban planning to ensure that vendors are not left vulnerable to environmental shocks.
The street vendors of Nagaland are demanding their rightful place in the system. What they need is structural change in the form of policies that protect, include and empower them.
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
