Uncovering the influence of Street Food: Ethnographic Research on Consumption and its Social Impacts.

Uncovering the influence of Street Food: Ethnographic Research on Consumption and its Social Impacts.

Uncovering the influence of Street Food: Ethnographic Research on Consumption and its Social Impacts.

Introduction

Street food also known as ready made food and beverages are prepared and sold by hawkers, or vendors, in the street. It can be sold from mobile carts, food trucks or food stands. The term “street food” covers a broad spectrum of styles and flavours. The best part about street food is they are much more affordable as compared with the food supplied in restaurants but also most people don't like these foods because of hygiene as it is not good for their health.

This study explores the role of street food vendors in Noida, Sector 8, Uttarpradesh. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with ten street food vendors, this research examines street food consumption and how it impacts other people around sector 8.

Street food also known as ready made food and beverages are prepared and sold by hawkers, or vendors, in the street. It can be sold from mobile carts, food trucks or food stands. The term “street food” covers a broad spectrum of styles and flavours. The best part about street food is they are much more affordable as compared with the food supplied in restaurants but also most people don't like these foods because of hygiene as it is not good for their health.

This study explores the role of street food vendors in Noida, Sector 8, Uttarpradesh. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with ten street food vendors, this research examines street food consumption and how it impacts other people around sector 8.

Introduction

Street food also known as ready made food and beverages are prepared and sold by hawkers, or vendors, in the street. It can be sold from mobile carts, food trucks or food stands. The term “street food” covers a broad spectrum of styles and flavours. The best part about street food is they are much more affordable as compared with the food supplied in restaurants but also most people don't like these foods because of hygiene as it is not good for their health.

This study explores the role of street food vendors in Noida, Sector 8, Uttarpradesh. Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with ten street food vendors, this research examines street food consumption and how it impacts other people around sector 8.

Challenges faced by Indian Str-
-eet Food Vendors

Challenges faced
by Indian Street Food
Vendors

  1. The basic problems of street vendors is insecurity and uncertainty as their profession is considered illegal. They face the problem of eviction and unable to access various government facilities. They are harassed by Municipality people and Police due to their cart standing on a certain road.

  2. Since sector 8 is an Industrial area a lot of street vendors try to attract workers heading home after work. One street vendor tries to outdo the other street vendors.There is a lot of competition going on between them. To increase their profit some tea stalls come up with the idea of selling lunch in the afternoon and tea and snacks in the morning and evening.

  3. Their working conditions are unhygienic and they have absolutely no knowledge of sanitation. Most of the customers expect them to be thoroughly cleaned before preparing the food.
    Nuna Bare Ki Biryani in Sector 8, the owner used to work as a tailor but after getting old his eyesight became weak so he started selling biryani.

  1. The basic problems of street vendors is insecurity and uncertainty as their profession is considered illegal. They face the problem of eviction and unable to access various government facilities. They are harassed by Municipality people and Police due to their cart standing on a certain road.

  2. Since sector 8 is an Industrial area a lot of street vendors try to attract workers heading home after work. One street vendor tries to outdo the other street vendors.There is a lot of competition going on between them. To increase their profit some tea stalls come up with the idea of selling lunch in the afternoon and tea and snacks in the morning and evening.

  3. Their working conditions are unhygienic and they have absolutely no knowledge of sanitation. Most of the customers expect them to be thoroughly cleaned before preparing the food.
    Nuna Bare Ki Biryani in Sector 8, the owner used to work as a tailor but after getting old his eyesight became weak so he started selling biryani.

Family Involvement

In sector 8, there are a total 4 vendors obtaining assistance from their family members at home, mainly the wife and children, in the preparation of the food items to be sold.


  1. Special Kachori, the shop is located in sector 8 near Jama masjid which is run by the whole family.

  2. Munna Dhaba - Is also run by family members, they close their shop in the evening for their children's tuition classes.

  3. Farah Ki Dukaan The shop is run by Farah and his little son.

  4. Pani Puri This shop is also run by the whole family.

Challenges faced by Indian Street Food Vendors

  1. The basic problems of street vendors is insecurity and uncertainty as their profession is considered illegal. They face the problem of eviction and unable to access various government facilities. They are harassed by Municipality people and Police due to their cart standing on a certain road.

  2. Since sector 8 is an Industrial area a lot of street vendors try to attract workers heading home after work. One street vendor tries to outdo the other street vendors.There is a lot of competition going on between them. To increase their profit some tea stalls come up with the idea of selling lunch in the afternoon and tea and snacks in the morning and evening.

  3. Their working conditions are unhygienic and they have absolutely no knowledge of sanitation. Most of the customers expect them to be thoroughly cleaned before preparing the food.
    Nuna Bare Ki Biryani in Sector 8, the owner used to work as a tailor but after getting old his eyesight became weak so he started selling biryani.

Family Involvement

In sector 8, there are a total 4 vendors obtaining assistance from their family members at home, mainly the wife and children, in the preparation of the food items to be sold.


  1. Special Kachori, the shop is located in sector 8 near Jama masjid which is run by the whole family.

  2. Munna Dhaba - Is also run by family members, they close their shop in the evening for their children's tuition classes.

  3. Farah Ki Dukaan The shop is run by Farah and his little son.

  4. Pani Puri This shop is also run by the whole family.

Interactions

Pani puri

  • Kitne saal ho gaye bhaiya yaha kaam kare ? (How many years have you been working here brother?)
    - 10 saal se zadya (since 10 years)

  • Kis time atte ho app ? (What time do you come?)
    - Na anne ka time hota hai na jane ka (There is neither time to come nor time to go)

  • App kaha se atte ho ? (Where do you come from?)
    - Sector 8, masjid ke andar se. (Sector 8, from inside the mosque.)

  • Sara din mai yeh sab bek jati hai ? (Does it all sell in the whole day?)
    - Ha sham ko zadya bikte hai logg bhi zadya hote hai (Most are sold in the evening)

    Shikanji stall

  • Hello bhaiya app ka naam ? (hello brother your name?)
    - Sourab bhai

  • Kitne saal se ho app yaha ? (How many years have you been here?)
    - Since 1998, pehele papa lagate te thee (Since 1998, earlier my dad used to run the shop)

  • Yehe pe kyu ? (Why here?)
    - Yaha pe sab jaante hai mujhe (everyone knows me here)

    Nunna - bare ki biryani

  • Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga (Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga)
    - Ha ha bas yehe hai dekhlo. (Ha ha this all I have, see.)

  • Apne yeh jagha kyu chunni dukan kholne ke liye ? Why did you choose this place to open a shop)
    - Yahi shuru kiya tha mene phele, phele yaha koi nahi tha mai aya tha phele. (This is what I started earlier, earlier there was no one here, I came earlier.)

  • Koi specific reason ? (Any specific reason?)
    - Khali area tha kuch khare ka nahi tha bas ek he hotel islye whai par khola. (The area was empty, nothing was of real value, only one hotel was opened, that's why.)

  • Kabse kab tak app khula rakte ho ? (For how long do you keep the app open?)
    - 8:00 am se 1:30pm tak fir mera beta rehta hai 7:00pm tak. (From 8:00 am to 1:30 pm then my son stays till 7:00 pm.)

    Salim chicken biryani

  • Uncle thodi practice karlu sketching ki yaha piche khade hoke ? (Uncle, can I practice sketching a little while standing back here?)

    -Nahi nahi (No)

  • Areeh sawal nahi puchunga? (I wint ask any question)
    - Hmm

  • Ajj khatam nahi hogi biryani ? (Biryani is not finished today?)
    - Wo toh nahi 1 baje tak khatam hoti hai. (It doesn't end by 1 o'clock.)

  • 3 se 4 kg ? (3 to 4 kg?)
    - Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. (Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. )

Pani puri

  • Kitne saal ho gaye bhaiya yaha kaam kare ? (How many years have you been working here brother?)
    - 10 saal se zadya (since 10 years)

  • Kis time atte ho app ? (What time do you come?)
    - Na anne ka time hota hai na jane ka (There is neither time to come nor time to go)

  • App kaha se atte ho ? (Where do you come from?)
    - Sector 8, masjid ke andar se. (Sector 8, from inside the mosque.)

  • Sara din mai yeh sab bek jati hai ? (Does it all sell in the whole day?)
    - Ha sham ko zadya bikte hai logg bhi zadya hote hai (Most are sold in the evening)

    Shikanji stall

  • Hello bhaiya app ka naam ? (hello brother your name?)
    - Sourab bhai

  • Kitne saal se ho app yaha ? (How many years have you been here?)
    - Since 1998, pehele papa lagate te thee (Since 1998, earlier my dad used to run the shop)

  • Yehe pe kyu ? (Why here?)
    - Yaha pe sab jaante hai mujhe (everyone knows me here)

    Nunna - bare ki biryani

  • Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga (Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga)
    - Ha ha bas yehe hai dekhlo. (Ha ha this all I have, see.)

  • Apne yeh jagha kyu chunni dukan kholne ke liye ? Why did you choose this place to open a shop)
    - Yahi shuru kiya tha mene phele, phele yaha koi nahi tha mai aya tha phele. (This is what I started earlier, earlier there was no one here, I came earlier.)

  • Koi specific reason ? (Any specific reason?)
    - Khali area tha kuch khare ka nahi tha bas ek he hotel islye whai par khola. (The area was empty, nothing was of real value, only one hotel was opened, that's why.)

  • Kabse kab tak app khula rakte ho ? (For how long do you keep the app open?)
    - 8:00 am se 1:30pm tak fir mera beta rehta hai 7:00pm tak. (From 8:00 am to 1:30 pm then my son stays till 7:00 pm.)

    Salim chicken biryani

  • Uncle thodi practice karlu sketching ki yaha piche khade hoke ? (Uncle, can I practice sketching a little while standing back here?)

    -Nahi nahi (No)

  • Areeh sawal nahi puchunga? (I wint ask any question)
    - Hmm

  • Ajj khatam nahi hogi biryani ? (Biryani is not finished today?)
    - Wo toh nahi 1 baje tak khatam hoti hai. (It doesn't end by 1 o'clock.)

  • 3 se 4 kg ? (3 to 4 kg?)
    - Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. (Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. )

Consumers

  • Bhaiya app yaha pe sabse achi khaane ki dukaan kaunse hai? (Brother, which is the best food shop here?)
    - Sab kuch acha milta hai yaha. (Everything found here is good.)

  • App yaha pe kabse kha rahe ho ? (Since when have you been eating here?)
    - Jabse yaha naukri kar raha hu tabse. (Ever since I am working here.)

  • Yehe pe kyu ? (Why here?)
    - Yaha sabse satsa milta hai hai aur pet bhi bhar jata hai yaha sabkuch sasta milta abhi covid ke baad thori price bari hai. (Here you get the most food and the stomach is also filled, everything is cheap here, now after covid the price is a little free.)

  • Aur yaha saaf safai ko leke kya sochte ho app ? (And what do you think about cleanliness here?)
    - Khana yaha sab ghar se baana ke laate hai aur jinnhe yaha nahi khaana hota hai wo piche wali market mai khatte hai. (Everyone brings food here from home and those who don't want to eat here are sour in the back market.)

  • Aur wo khule hui khaane ? (And that open food?)
    - Wo toh jaldi bik jata hia isleye khula rakha hai. (It gets sold out quickly, so it is kept open.)

Interactions

Pani puri

  • Kitne saal ho gaye bhaiya yaha kaam kare ? (How many years have you been working here brother?)
    - 10 saal se zadya (since 10 years)

  • Kis time atte ho app ? (At what time do you come?)
    - Na anne ka time hota hai na jane ka (There is neither time to come nor time to go)

  • App kaha se atte ho ? (Where do you come from?)
    - Sector 8, masjid ke andar se. (Sector 8, from inside the mosque.)

  • Sara din mai yeh sab bek jati hai ? (Does it all sell in the whole day?)
    - Ha sham ko zadya bikte hai logg bhi zadya hote hai (Most are sold in the evening)

    Shikanji stall

  • Hello bhaiya app ka naam ? (hello brother, what is your name?)
    - Sourab bhai (Sourab)

  • Kitne saal se ho app yaha ? (How many years have you been here?)
    - Since 1998, pehele papa lagate te thee (Since 1998, earlier my dad used to run the shop)

  • Yehe pe kyu ? (Why here?)
    - Yaha pe sab jaante hai mujhe (everyone knows me here)

    Nunna - bade ki biryani

  • Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga (Namaste Uncle mene bola tha na mai aunga)
    - Ha ha bas yehe hai dekhlo. (Ha ha this all I have, see.)

  • Apne yeh jagha kyu chunni dukan kholne ke liye ? (Why did you choose this place to open a shop)
    - Yahi shuru kiya tha mene phele, phele yaha koi nahi tha mai aya tha phele. (This is what I started earlier, earlier there was no one here, I came earlier.)

  • Koi specific reason ? (Any specific reason?)
    - Khali area tha kuch khare ka nahi tha bas ek he hotel islye whai par khola. (The area was empty, nothing was of real value, only one hotel was opened, that's why.)

  • Kabse kab tak app khula rakte ho ? (For how long do you keep the app open?)
    - 8:00 am se 1:30pm tak fir mera beta rehta hai 7:00pm tak. (From 8:00 am to 1:30 pm then my son stays till 7:00 pm.)

    Salim chicken biryani

  • Uncle thodi practice karlu sketching ki yaha piche khade hoke ? (Uncle, can I practice sketching a little while standing back here?)

    -Nahi nahi (No)

  • Areeh sawal nahi puchunga? (I wont ask any question)
    - Hmm

  • Ajj khatam nahi hogi biryani ? (Biryani is not finished today?)
    - Wo toh nahi 1 baje tak khatam hoti hai. (It doesn't end by 1 o'clock.)

  • 3 se 4 kg ? (3 to 4 kg?)
    - Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. (Nahi koi hisab nahi hai kabhi 1 baje khatam hoti hai toh kabhi 4 baje. )

Consumers

  • Bhaiya app yaha pe sabse achi khaane ki dukaan kaunse hai? (Brother, which is the best food shop here?)
    - Sab kuch acha milta hai yaha. (Everything found here is good.)

  • App yaha pe kabse kha rahe ho ? (Since when have you been eating here?)
    - Jabse yaha naukri kar raha hu tabse. (Ever since I am working here.)

  • Yehe pe kyu ? (Why here?)
    - Yaha sabse satsa milta hai hai aur pet bhi bhar jata hai yaha sabkuch sasta milta abhi covid ke baad thori price bari hai. (Here you get the most food and the stomach is also filled, everything is cheap here, now after covid the price is a little free.)

  • Aur yaha saaf safai ko leke kya sochte ho app ? (And what do you think about cleanliness here?)
    - Khana yaha sab ghar se baana ke laate hai aur jinnhe yaha nahi khaana hota hai wo piche wali market mai khatte hai. (Everyone brings food here from home and those who don't want to eat here are sour in the back market.)

  • Aur wo khule hui khaane ? (And that open food ?)
    - Wo toh jaldi bik jata hia isleye khula rakha hai. (It gets sold out quickly, so it is kept open.)