Perception About Hawkers in Indian Cities: a Consumer-public Survey in Mumbai

Everyone in Mumbai wants the service of the hawker at the point of purchase i.e. near the railway station, at the signal, on the footpath, near the hospital, near the doorstep and all such places where his need is felt. He seems to be omnipresent and is there as soon as the consumer wishes for him. On the other hand both the consumer and the public have different opinion about his existence. The upper class sees him as an eye sore using up valuable public space which could be otherwise used for alternate purpose like parking. The people living in the slums of Mumbai for them he is the messiah and someone with whom they identify one among them. It is the people from the middle class who are not sure about their opinion. They are dependable on him for their daily purchases but are not sure whether he should be accommodated within the city. This book explores the perception about the hawkers in other Indian cities in brief and in depth in Mumbai. Few deny his requirement of services. In-fact they believe that they cannot imagine Mumbai without hawkers and still hold alternate opinions.