Impact of Pandemic on Street Food Vendors of Rajasthan: Challenges and Coping Strategies

The present qualitative study was undertaken to assess the impact of pandemic on street food vendors of Rajasthan. The street food vendors comprise of a large chuck of unorganized sector and provide employment to variety of groups who cannot find otherwise employment easily, especially rural migrants. The study attempts to evaluate the socioeconomic impact on the lives of vendors during and post lockdown, the challenges faced, and the coping strategies employed to overcome the challenges. Semi-structured interview schedule was developed by the researchers, which was administered on 30 vendors from Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur Ajmer Cities of Rajasthan after obtaining informed verbal consent. The interviews were then transcribed, and themes and subthemes were extracted. The major themes were in terms of economic consequences, psychological impact, and coping strategies. The subthemes were massive decline in sales, fear of infection, problems faced from administrative machinery in terms of eviction during lockdowns, lack of following COVID appropriate behavior by customers, and no relief from government. Post-lockdown challenges included procurement of essential food items, increased prices, rent payment, payment of helpers and customers not following precautions, scarce opportunities for vaccination, and misconceptions related to vaccination. The coping strategies employed included taking out loans from nongovernment sources on high interest rates and at times substance abuse. The future implications as suggested by vendors were financial assistance from government and sympathetic attitude from police and administration and opportunities for vaccination. The findings of the study will help governments, policy makers, and administrators to formulate and implement such policies that will assist vendors to face the challenges effectively with appropriate coping strategies.