KLSC Report on Domestic Workers & Street Vendors

A. About KIIT Legal Services Clinic (KLSC)

The KIIT Legal Services Clinic is a student-led initiative under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. It promotes access to justice for marginalised communities, offering free legal aid, spreading legal awareness, and facilitating alternative dispute resolution. It functions under the KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneswar, and collaborates with legal authorities and NGOs.

B. Survey Details

Fieldwork was conducted in key institutions: SCB Medical College, KIMS, CMC, and UCHC, involving 49 respondents comprising domestic workers and street vendors.

C1. Domestic Workers – Key Findings

Challenges Identified:

  1. Educational Disparities – Many workers lacked basic education.
  2. Low Wages & No Benefits – Minimal pay, absence of bonuses, no paid leaves or healthcare.
  3. Lack of Contracts – Most employment is informal, with no legal documentation.
  4. Unawareness of Rights – Workers lacked knowledge of trade unions and government schemes.
  5. Gender Discrimination – Female workers face added burdens regarding hygiene and health.

Statistical Insights:

  • Graph 1: Showed low awareness of trade unions.
  • Graph 2: Indicated poor awareness of welfare schemes.
  • Graph 3: Highlighted wage-related grievances and bribery.

C2. Street Vendors – Key Findings

Demographics & Work Patterns:

  • 22 vendors surveyed: 16 male, 6 female; aged 25–60.
  • Most work 6 days a week, 6–10 hours daily.

Primary Issues:

  1. Registration Gaps – Many vendors are unlicensed; few have valid ID cards.
  2. Harassment – Vendors face bribes and evictions by police/authorities.
  3. Lack of Amenities – Poor access to clean toilets, water, electricity, parking.
  4. Poor Awareness – Limited understanding of welfare schemes or grievance redressal mechanisms.
  5. Eviction & Confiscation – Vendors face dislocation without notice or alternatives.

D. Programmes Implemented by KLSC

Domestic Workers:

  • Pamphlet Distribution & Camps – Awareness on schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Shram Yogi Yojana.
  • Legal Counselling – Addressed issues in local language to ensure comprehension.
  • Impact – Trust in legal institutions increased; demand for follow-up legal aid rose.

Street Vendors:

  • Nukkad Natak (Street Plays) – Educated vendors on rights, hygiene, and licensing procedures.
  • Camps & Pamphlets – Explained legal rights, licensing, FSSAI registration, RTI, and PIL filing.
  • Legal Bridge – KLSC acted as a link between vendors and CMC for licensing and grievance resolution.

E. Solutions & Suggestions

E1. Domestic Workers:

  • Training programmes for professional skills.
  • Ensure access to social security and education for workers’ children.
  • Strengthen legal representation and enforce minimum wages.
  • Employer responsibility for safe and hygienic work conditions.

E2. Street Vendors:

  • Create public shelters for rest.
  • Access to education and entrepreneurial training.
  • Designated vending zones with amenities.
  • Legal recognition and protection under the Street Vendors Act, 2014.

E3. Implementation Guidance:

  • A phased approach with institutional involvement, rights-based frameworks, and continued legal aid.

F. Conclusion

The report identifies deep-rooted systemic issues faced by domestic workers and street vendors, ranging from economic exploitation and social exclusion to legal invisibility. It calls for a multifaceted reform agenda involving legal, administrative, and social strategies to empower these marginalised groups and ensure their dignity, safety, and inclusion in the workforce.

KLSC Report on Domestic Workers & Street Vendors