'Pass street vendors bill in budget session'

Street vendors associations from across the country Monday urged the lawmakers to pass a bill in the ongoing budget session that will protect the livelihood, dignity and human rights of millions of vendors.

Speaking at a press conference here, Arbind Singh, national coordinator, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) said: "We hope the bill will be passed in the ongoing budget session. If it is approved, lakhs of vendors will get registered and they will live a life of dignity."

They want that the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill be passed in the ongoing budget session of parliament.

According to NASVI, once enacted, the bill would go a long way in protecting the livelihood, dignity and human rights of millions of street vendors.

As per the provisions of the bill, tabled in the last monsoon session of parliament, anyone over 18 years of age can register with the town vending committee for carrying out business.

"Once registered with the local civic authorities, vendors will be provided with identity cards which will allow them to sell their products in the vending zones allocated to them. The bill will also help the authorities to regulate the hawker's activities in public areas such as pavements and roads," Manali Shah, president NASVI said.

The NASVI, an association which has over 4.5 lakh members in 23 states of the country as its members, urged the political parties to support it and wholeheartedly pass the bill, which will protect the livelihood of vendors.

"The bill also provides for setting up of vending zones for hawkers with minimal restrictions and without fear of being fined by municipal authorities. Once passed the bill would go a long way in protecting the livelihood, dignity and human rights of millions of street vendors," Shah added.

According to the housing development and urban poverty alleviation ministry, there are 10 million street vendors in the country.

Mumbai alone accounts for 2,50,000 street vendors and Delhi for 2,00,000. There are over 1,50,000 street vendors in Kolkata and over 100,000 in Ahmedabad.