An Ethnographic Account on the Meaning, Strategies, and Dimensions of Street Vending in an Urban Setting of Kolkata, West Bengal.

Predicaments and Possibilities Experienced by Homeless in Karachi

“…These methods of accessing various services and making use of the opportunities offers insight into the resilience of homeless and suggests towards their desire to survive in odd/non-favourable circumstances with the intent to improve their lives in the longer run. This resonates with findings related to similar group of people in the regional context and highlights social ability of the homeless in negotiating terms to access various municipal services (Adams and Boateng, 2018; Das, 2015; PAVHNA, 2004).…”

“…In this regard, there is a lot to learn and adapt from international and regional practices (Busch-Geertsema et al, 2016; Das, 2015; Dupont and Tingal, 1997; Pleace, 2013; Subasinghe, 2015). The NGO sector can play a role here, as witnessed by the practices of SDI, ACHR, SPARC, Mahila Milan and NSDF some of which are supported by international financial funding from DFID, Misereor, SELAVIP, Cord Aid and others.…”

“…Furthermore, all the homeless should not be treated similarly, and the distinction between various groups, according to livelihoods and desire to be upwardly mobile should be taken into consideration. There are many practices and policy directions existing internationally that can be learnt from the literature (Busch-Geertsema et al, 2016; Das, 2015; Dupont and Tingal, 1997; Pleace, 2013; Subasinghe, 2015), but these need to be adapted to the local context, and this research can help towards developing this understanding. The administrative responses in the local context are grossly limited and at times not based on a complete understanding of the types of homeless and their requirements.…”

“…The research situates itself within the larger theoretical discourses that exists about nomenclature (Busch-Geertsema et al, 2016; Fitzpatrick, 2005; Graham and Speak, 2006; McCarthy, 2018, 2020; Simone, 2016; Tipple and Speak, 2005), typologies (Allemande and Signieves, 2015; Ayson, 2018; Bapat and Agarwal, 2003), locations (Adams and Boateng, 2018; Das, 2015; Dupont and Tingal, 1997) and policy responses (India Habitat Centre, 2016; Pleace, 2013; UN-Habitat, 2015; UN Millennium Project, 2005) towards the homeless internationally. The literature highlights the diversity of reasons for rough sleeper spatial options, life style challenges and livelihood compulsions, but does not emphasize the various adaptation processes that inform the choices of pavement dwellers in a positive manner and can help draw lessons for larger theoretical implications.…”