Legitimate Occupation Declared Illegal:   As per India’s municipal laws it is unlawful to vend or hawk in the streets without a license.   Clauses on street vending based on the British municipal law of 1820’s.   Most urban local bodies stopped issuing licences decades ago.   No.of vendors in Delhi: 3 to 5 lakhs. Licenses issued in Delhi: no more than 3000. Mumbai: 250,000 vendors, 15,719 licenses Patna 80,000 vendors; 2000 licenses after long struggle.   The illegal status of 99% vendors makes them vulnerable to bribes, beatings and extortion. This situation prevails all over India.       5