Problems Faced by The Fast Food Street Vendors

The present investigation was carried out to study the problems faced by fast food street vendors of Jorhat district of Assam. The study was undertaken to identify the problems faced by the Fast Food Street Vendors. The registered fast food street vendors of Jorhat city were purposively selected as the locale of the present study. A total of 111 respondents were randomly selected for the present study which was 50 percent of the total population. An interview schedule was constructed for collection of data. Appropriate statistical methods were used such as ranking and intensity index. The respondents faced a number of problems in different areas and of different intensity. Among financial problem, the problems related to repayment of loans from financer and realising the credit from customers were ranked first and second and were of moderate intensity. Among the familial problem, the problems relating to construction of the sanitary system for the family and medical check up of the family members were ranked first and second and were of severity intensity. Problems pertaining to hygiene, it was found that use of apron and use of head covers were ranked first and second. Both these problems were of severe intensity. Among the social problem, it was found that the problem regarding sudden strike in the locality was ranked first and of severe intensity, followed by problem regarding competition with other vendors was ranked as second and were of moderate intensity. Among administrative problem it was found that the problems pertaining to local administrative tax, location tax were ranked first and second and of mild intensity. A training programme to inform the fast food vendors regarding health and hygiene is the need of the hour. Local administration may be approached to sponsor such a training programme to prepare a training kit containing apron, head cover and gloves. Moreover, the local administration may be requested to make it mandatory to use this hygienic kit by all fast food vendors and become a proud pioneer to show case a step towards popularising the healthy fast food centres in Jorhat city thereby attracting the unemployed educated youth to start fast food centres as a good start up. Government can also provide minimum facilities in appropriate places for the street food vendors, since major economic return from this sector are more in a developing country like India.