Interviewing a Street Vendor
Mr. Ajay is a 44-year-old vegetable seller who has been selling vegetables on the street for the past 17 years. Today I had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Ajay about his life and work in depth. here are some question I asked Mr. Ajay about his life, work and their struggle in making a livelihood.
Question: Tell me about your life growing up and how you got into selling vegetables on the streets.
Answer: Well, I was born and raised right here in this neighborhood. My family has been living in this area since before my birth. Growing up was simple, but not without its challenges, said Mr. Ajay. Growing up, my parents did not have enough money to send me or my siblings to school. Our family struggled a bit financially, so I realized that I needed to find a way to support my family, and that's when I decided to enter the world of street vending.
Question: Can you share some of the struggles you've faced as a street vendor over the years?
Answer: Being a street vendor comes with its own set of challenges. Firstly, there's the constant struggle to make ends meet. But I have been sort of lucky to be working here, as the people around me are very good. Of course, there are challenges in my work. The long hours of my work started at 6 in the morning, and I roamed around the whole neighbourhood on foot, pushing my heavy cart full of vegetables. In summers, the heat is sometimes too much to bear, making it hard to roam around yelling on top of my lungs to gain attention or let people know that I'm here.
Question: Do you think the opening of the supermarket store in the main bazaar had any impact on your business?
Answer: Yes, to be honest, it has affected my work a little. I usually had a fixed time to reach a particular street, and people used to wait for me to come, and then they would buy vegetables, but now some of them go to the supermarket store at their own convenience.
Question: How many people are there in your family? Do you have any kids?
Answer: There are six people in my family: my mother, my wife, two children, a younger brother, and me. I also have a sister, but she is married and does not live with us.
Questions: Are you the sole earner of the family?
Answer: No, my younger brother is also working with me, and together we earn for our family. He is also a vegetable seller. We have a small shop (khokha) near our home, where he sits to sell vegetables.
Questions: And your children—do they study or go to school?
Answer: Yes, both my kids, my son and daughter, are studying at a government school. I do not have the kind of money to send them to private schools, but yes, they are studying and are good at academics as well.
Questions: What are your expectations from society and the government in terms of support for street vendors like yourself?
Answer: My expectations are simple, really. I hope for more recognition and respect for the work that street vendors do. Not everybody treats us the same. You know, when I roam around in the neighbourhood during the summer, there are only a few houses from which I can ask for water with confidence. They will give me cold water from the fridge and talk to me with respect. This is the only thing I would ask of society.
I do not ask too much from the government, just good education for my children and a little better facilities to help make our lives a little better. I do not want my son to sell vegetables if he has the ability to do more.
Question: How do you find meaning and fulfillment in your work as a street vendor, despite the challenges you face?
Answer: Despite the challenges, I find meaning and fulfillment in the connections I make with people every day. I've built relationships with many of my customers over the years, and it's heartwarming to see familiar faces and exchange stories. I also take pride in the quality of the produce I sell and the service I provide to the community. There's a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I'm contributing to people's well-being by offering fresh and nutritious food options.
