Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

Executive Summary
Weekly markets are one of the main marketing features of Lucknow. These weekly bazaars in Lucknow witness, groups of shoppers belonging to the lower and middle class families, particularly, women and girls. Middle aged women and men are seen negotiating for best deals in clothes, kitchenware etc. The main attraction is that the prices in these markets are very genuine or much less as compared to the other regular markets of Lucknow. However, bargaining is done and one has to be ready to bargain to get the items of interest at minimum price. But one thing that could be noticed is the etiquette and manners, and softness on the part of shop keepers and that make the Lucknow - the City of Nawabs. Some of the popular weekly markets in Lucknow are: Sunday it is in Nakhas (Chowk) area, Tuesday is in Alambagh area. Wednesday it is in Gol Market (Mahanagar) and Thursday it is in Nazirabaad (Aminabad), Considering the popularity of the Budh Bazar a survey was conducted to determine and analyse the various factors related to the vendors basic profile, living status, income and expenses, civic amenities and their general problems. The outcome of the survey has been derived in the detailed report.

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

1. Introduction
The weekly markets are boon for lower middle class. Almost everything starting from readymade clothes, utensils and articles of day-to-day needs are available here for sale. There is a mad rush before festivals in these markets. You may compare it with Fairs and carnivals of other cities. The difference is that it is not associated with any religious event and it is purely a business market. At the time of inflation, Lucknowites are lucky to have a market like Budh bazaar from where they can buy useful daily household items including clothes, utensils, woolens etc. Budh bazaar is the cheapest and preferred market for shopping in Lucknow. It is held every Wednesday near Gole Market and Nishatganj; and the market offers almost each and every useful thing which we require in our day to day life. The eye catching part in this weekly open market is clothes. There are a variety of clothes available here which usually is very expensive in other markets of Lucknow. We get all kinds of materials in this market at a low cost. All range and variety of fabrics is available in the market which is as good as the expensive one. Apart from clothes, Budh bazaar has an array of low cost utensils and household material made of good quality. Budh Bazaar is the best option as useful things are available in half rate and if somebody is good at bargaining then nothing is better than that. People now prefer this market for their daily use items because now a days everything is getting expensive. This market circulates in Lucknow as a name of other weekly markets. Lucknowites can have a good time in roaming Budh Bazaar. The unusual popularity of weekly pavement markets (eg; Buddh Bazaar) held in different places on specific days, are much popular than shopping malls, though these are held on narrow streets or roads with no parking space or civic facilities.

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

Street vending absorbs millions of those who come to cities as economic refugees from villages, because they can enter this occupation with very small amounts of capital. They not only create employment for themselves through their own entrepreneurial skills, but also help generate employment in small scale industry. They are the main distribution channel for a large variety of products of daily consumption-fruit, vegetables, readymade garments, shoes, household gadgets, toys and so on. During the survey in Budh bazar market in Mahanagar, Lucknow, it was found that the current weekly extortion rates for pavement sellers range from Rs. 50 to Rs. 200 a month for ordinary markets. Those with regular tehbazaris paid a little less, before the abolition of Tehbazari Act in 2005. Now they are certainly not spared the humiliation of having to placate the tyrannical deities of license/permit raj through regular cash offerings. In addition, the police often take away their goods without payment, whenever they so desire. This results in a major loss of income for them. Thus, if we calculate at a modest average of Rs. 500 per person per month by way of cash bribes and Rs. 300 per month for loss of income due to open robbery of their goods by government servants.

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

2. Research Design
a. Methodology for project
In the survey apart from the basic profile most of the inputs were collected 5 points as per the Likert Scale. The major parameters were Living status, Income and expenses, Civic amenities, General problems.

b. Survey Location and Sample Details

The survey location was Buddh Bazar, Gole Market, Mahanagar Lucknow. There were more than 500 vendors in the 5 streets connecting to Gole Market. The sample survey was conducted among 30 vendors.

c. Tehbazari Act and Taxes

Before the abolition of Tehbazari Act in 2006 the pavement vendors have to pay taxes to the Nagar Nigam on per day basis. The rates were Rs. 5 for the pavement size 3x5 Ft and Rs. 10 for pavement size 4x10 ft. A collector was appointed by the Nagar nigam for each weekly market who collected the tax from the pavement vendors and issued them a receipt. The State Government finally issued an order in June 2006 abolishing the controversial Tehbazari system in all urban local bodies to provide relief to petty shopkeepers and roadside vendors. It was one of the major sources of revenue for the local bodies. Nowadays the Nagar Nigam doesnt collect the tax directly from the vendors but tender as raised for different weekly markets and the contractors now collect the money.

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

3. Analysis
Table1 : Responses of the Pavement Vendors (Total 24)
S L Question Strongly Disagree Response Total Strongly Agree Undecided Disagree Maximum Persons Response % of Total Responses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

I am satisfied with my earnings There are Traffic Related Problems in market Area Weekly Market/ Shops are Legal Workers are Honest I do earn sufficient profit from my investment I have to face harassment by local goons I have to face harassment by local police There is proper Sanitation by Nagar Nigam I get adequate support from Fire department Proper Medical facilities are available for sellers Other Shopkeepers/ Vendors are cooperative I get adequate support from local police There are problems with the supply of products. I have to pay money middleman every time Quality of the products is compromised for price

2 1 7 5 2 1 1 1 2 1 13 5 0 1 0

Agree 7 0 9 19 7 2 2 0 0 0 11 2 1 0 1

6 0 1 0 9 0 1 0 1 0 0 9 0 1 2

8 21 7 0 6 19 17 20 18 20 0 7 18 16 10

1 2 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 3 0 1 5 6 11

24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

Disagree Disagree Agree Agree Undecided Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Strongly Agree Undecided Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

33.33 87.50 37.50 79.17 37.50 79.17 70.83 83.33 75.00 83.33 54.17 37.50 75.00 66.67 45.83

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

Table2 : Basic Profile of the Pavement Vendors

Particulars Category Total Persons 41 to 50 6 Above 50 5 24 41 to 50 Years 25.00 Max Persons' Category % of Max Category

1. Age Group (in Years)

15 to 20 3

21 to 30 5 Female 1 Married 15 Primary 7 Muslim 6 Owned Kholi 4 2 to 4 17 Main Shop 0 1000 3000

31 to 40 5

2. Sex

Male 23 Single 8 No Education 15

24 Widow 0 10 th 0 Sikh 1 Rented Pucca 5 5 to 7 4 Both 1 30005000 Widower 1 12th 0 Christian 0 Rented Kholi 1 7 to 10 0 Earning Members 0 5000-10000 Other 0 Graduate 2 Other 0 Other 0 More than 10 2 Others 2 Above 10000 24 24 24 24

Male

95.83

3. Marital Status

24

Married

62.50

4. Education (Highest)

No Education

62.50

5. Religion

Hindu 17 Owned Pucca 14

24

Hindu

70.83

6. Living Status (Residence)

Owned Pucca

58.33

7. No of Dependents

Less than 2 1

2 to 4 Dependents

70.83

8. Source Of Income

Weekly Market 21

Weekly Market

87.50

9. Average Monthly Income

Below 1000

14

24

1000 to 3000 Monthly Income

58.33

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

Particulars Category Total Persons Conveyance Others Max Persons' Category % of Max Category

10. Major Monthly Expenditure (Business)

Shop Rent

Electricity

Tax

Conveyance 0 11. Major Monthly Expenditure (Family) House Rent 0 Food 1 Clothes 12 Education 11 Health 24 50.00

5 12. Monthly Savings Preference Self

18 Post Office 4 1- 5 Year

0 Bank

0 Jewelry

1 Land

24

Food

75.00

19 13. Time Period in Weekly Market Less than 1 Yr

1 510Year

0 10- 25 Year

0 More than 25 Year 5

24

Self

79.17

24

10 to 25 Years

37.50

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

4. Conclusion
The area studied for the project of Weekly Market in this report is the role of Local Authorities. In the Articles 39 (a) and (b) of the Constitution which mentions that the State shall in particular direct its Policy so that (a) the citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood. (b) the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to sub-serve the common good.

Street Vendors provide valuable services to the urban population while trying to earn a livelihood and it is the duty of the State to protect the right of this segment of population to earn their livelihood. This Policy aims to ensure that this important section of the urban population finds recognition for its contribution to society, and is conceived of as a major initiative for urban poverty alleviation. The role played by the Street Vendors in the economy as also in the society needs to be given due credit. But, the ground reality is such that the Street Vendors are considered as unlawful entities and are subjected to continuous harassment by Police and Municipal Authorities. This situation needs to be redressed taking into account the right to livelihood of this class of working poor and the service they provide to the society. Objective: The objective to be achieved through this project is to let the Government and Local authorities to provide and promote a supportive environment for earning livelihoods to the vast mass of urban Street Vendors while ensuring that such activity does not lead to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in public spaces and streets. More specifically speaking the vendors should be provided with following:

a) Legal: To give Street Vendors legal status by formulating appropriate laws and providing legitimate hawking zones in urban development/ zoning plans and ensuring their implementation;

b) Facilities: To provide facilities for appropriate use of identified space including the creation of hawking zones in the urban development/ zoning plans, mentioned above;
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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

c) Regulation: To eschew imposing numerical limits on access to public spaces by discretionary licenses and instead moving to nominal fee-based regulation of access, where previous occupancy of the space by the Street Vendor for vending purposes, determines the allocation of space.

The Municipal Authorities should regulate allocation of space based on previous occupancy. If demand for space is in excess of supply, a transparent system of selection such as lottery should be followed. All allotments should be based on payment of a prescribed fee fixed by the Municipal Authorities.

d) Role in distribution: To make Street Vendors a special component of the urban development /zoning plans by treating them as an integral and legitimate part of the urban distribution system;

e) Self Regulation: To promote self-regulation in matters relating to hygiene, including disposal of waste amongst Street Vendors both in the individually allotted areas as well as in areas occupied by the Street Vendors as a whole.

f) Organization: To promote, if necessary, organizations of Street Vendors e.g. Unions / Cooperatives/ Associations and other forms of organization to facilitate their empowerment; g) Participation: To set up participatory mechanisms with representation by urban Vendors organizations, (Unions / Co-operatives/ Associations), Voluntary organizations, Municipal Authorities, the police, Residents Welfare Association (RWAs) and others for orderly conduct of urban vending activities;

h) Rehabilitation of Child Vendors: to prevent vending by children and seek their rehabilitation where ever such practice exists, in conformity with the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986;

i) Social Security: To provide protective Social Security to take care of contingencies such as sickness, maternity and old age.
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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

5. References
a. Websites and News Portals
http://www.infosurv.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Likert_Scale_Debate.pdf http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/qualdata.php http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/research/instrument%20Reliability%20and%20Validity/Likert.html http://www.mcdonline.gov.in/deptdetail.php?id=5 http://news.oneindia.in/2006/06/15/up-abolishes-tehbazari-system-in-urban-bodies-1150372007.html http://www.indiatogether.org/manushi/vendors/ http://www.manushi.in/policy-reform-work-for-street-vendors/working-under-constant-threat-176.html?pgno=4 http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/weekly-markets-set-to-be-regularised/497650/ http://www.hindustantimes.com/State-Govt-abolishes-tehbazari/Article1-109943.aspx

b. Persons and officials contacted

1. Mr. Prince Lenin, Sr. Advocate, High Court, Lucknow 2. Mr. Raghuvendra Singh, Sr. Advocate, High Court, Lucknow 3. Mr. Arun Awasthi, Inspector, encroachment Department, Nagar Nigam,Lucknow 4. Mr. Ram Kumar Yadav, Clerk, encroachment Department, Nagar Nigam,Lucknow 5. Mr. Haider Hussain, Accounts Department, Nagar Nigam , Lucknow

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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Weekly Markets in Lucknow- A Survey Report

6. Appendix
a. Schedule for Survey Questions b. Photographs of Buddh Bazar pavement vendors

Varnika Tiwari / MBA (Rural Management- Ist Semester)

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