A Critical Appraisal on Right to Work with Special reference to Women Street Vendors in Guwahati

Abstract

Right to work as a facet of Right to livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution of India offers a significant progression in optimizing the socio-economic fabric of the Indian society. Drawing its genesis from the Olga Tellis Case (1985), this right has impacted a broad swath of the demographic categories of which women street vendors form an integral part. This holds true for the women street vendors of the Guwahati city in Assam. The positional geography of the city makes it convenient for the women street vendors to become a part of the informal labour market. However, many a times, there exist situations which causes impediments for the women street vendors in the city resulting in their subsequent withdrawal from the informal markets. These causes are not only in multitude but also inter-related to each other leading to a fall in the women employment statistics. Though several schemes have been provided but the ineffective implementation of the same has caused several hurdles in protecting these women and eventually impacting their right to work. This research article henceforth tries to analyse the concept of right to work in relation to the women street vendors in Guwahati and delve upon the remedial measures taken up in safeguarding their rights.