Tshering Bida, 46, is one of the street hawkers at the bus terminal in Thimphu. She has been in this business for the past seven years. Till now she has been playing cat and mouse game with the Thromde officials, as the business she has been doing is illegal. However, now she has all the reason to smile.
The Bhutan Association of Women Entrepreneurs, under a project called Women’s Own Open Market, has constructed a temporary shed. The street hawkers are now allowed to sell their fast foods and snacks from this stall.
When BBS met Tshering Bida last month she said she was well aware that her business was illegal. Her goods have also been confiscated several times by the Thromde officials. But this has not stopped her from continuing her business since it is her only source of income. The story is similar with all other food hawkers.
With BAOWE’s ‘street food’ written on their red apron, Aum Tshering and other food hawkers can sell their snacks without any fear.
“It is very convenient for us. Now we don’t have to run away from the Thromde officials. And also we don’t have to stay in an open area in wind and dust. We are very happy here,” says Tshering Bida with a smile.
The BAOWE’s project, Women’s Own Open Market, with the trade name Street Food, was initiated with funds from the Civil Society Organisation Fund Facility Office. The project aims to provide a favorable working space for the street hawkers.
The president and the CEO of the BAOWE, Damchae Dem, said the concerned agencies have been supportive with this project. The food hawkers were also trained on good food practices by the BAFRA, last month.
Meanwhile, the street vendors are not allowed to sell imported food. They can sell only locally made food and snacks.
“With the help from BAOWE, we are good now. We sell only snacks produced from the Country and cooked fast food,” says Kinley Zangmo, one of the beneficiaries.
Even the customers feel comfortable taking food from them. “It looks good with the shed. The foods and snacks are much cleaner than before,” says one traveller.
“Earlier, it used to be inconvenient even for the customers with busy traffic. But now we can come at this corner and eat the fast foods comfortably,” says another.
Meanwhile, BAOWE have plans to construct a permanent structure at the bus terminal for the food hawkers. The permanent structure will also have a place for the hawkers to cook and prepare fast foods. There is also a plan to construct a temporary shed near the Memorial Chorten area.
