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Street vendors in India act as an efficient distribution network for articles of daily necessities. The fact that they account for a substantial population in Indian cities indicates that there is a demand for street vendors in these cities. In spite of this, today street vendors are regarded as ‘illegal’. A ray of hope is the fact that the acceptance of street vendors is increasing worldwide with talks about their rights and security. In India, with the formulation of the National Policy on Street Vendors in 2004, the status of street vendors has been recognised. With the acceptance of the policy by states and subsequently by cities, a methodology of integrating street vendors in the city will be required.