Guwahati: Child labour shadows city’s thriving street food culture

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: As the sun sets and the city comes alive with the sizzle of pakoras, the steam of momo, and the chatter of hungry crowds, another, far grimmer scene plays out in the background—one that speaks not of celebration, but of survival. Amid the city’s booming street food culture, children, some as young as ten, are being silently absorbed into the underbelly of urban commerce, forced to work.

From the bustling lanes of Fancy Bazar to the ever-crowded stretches of Paltan Bazar, street food stalls have become the face of a vibrant, fast-paced city. But behind the aroma and appetite lies a disturbing reality: a growing number of minors being employed by vendors to serve food, clean utensils, and even handle dangerous cooking equipment—often in direct violation of child protection laws.

At traffic-choked junctions like Ganeshguri and Beltola Chariali, these children can be seen darting between vehicles with steaming plates in hand or pushing heavy carts through crowded streets, their small frames dwarfed by the load they carry, both literal and metaphorical. “I’ve seen kids barely ten years old serving food during rush hour,” said a daily commuter at Ganeshguri. “They weave through traffic like it’s a game. It’s heartbreaking and very dangerous.”

Many of these food stalls operate without licenses or regulatory oversight, making them informal yet persistent hubs of child labour. According to a Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) official, “Whenever we receive a complaint, we shut down the stall immediately and notify the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).” However, such interventions barely scratch the surface. Up to March this year, six confirmed instances of child labour were recorded during GMC inspections—numbers that experts say represent only a fraction of the true scale.

Field observations suggest a more sobering picture of children working long hours without breaks, washing dishes in unsanitary conditions, running errands across busy roads, and handling hot oil—without protective gear, adult supervision, or the legal right to work.

The DCPU, responsible for identifying and rehabilitating child workers, acknowledges the growing challenges. “Most of these children now recognize us,” said a DCPU official. “They flee when we arrive, and stall owners refuse to admit hiring them. That makes rescue operations nearly impossible.” Between March 2024 and June 2025, the unit documented 119 such cases, but managed to rescue only 55 children. The rest remain out of reach—hidden behind denial, displacement, and fear.

Experts argue that the persistence of child labour in Guwahati’s street food sector reveals deeper systemic failures, chronic poverty, lack of community awareness, and poor coordination among enforcement bodies. “Families send children to work out of desperation,” said a local child rights activist. “But without proactive, long-term solutions and community participation, we’re only putting out fires, we’re not preventing them.”

Even the city’s traffic department has raised red flags, citing the presence of working children at major junctions as a public safety threat, both for commuters and the children themselves.

As the city races toward its vision of a smart and modern city, the contrast between its polished façade and the hidden exploitation of its youngest citizens is stark. Until stronger surveillance, legal action, and grassroots awareness take hold, the city’s famed street food scene will remain tainted by the silent cries of children who should be in schools, not on sidewalks.

 Also Read: Assam Police Sishu Mitra Initiative, Combat Child Labour

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