Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake on Monday said the State government will soon implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act.
Inaugurating a workshop on National Street Vendors Policy, organised by his department and the Municipal Administration Department, Mr. Sorake assured street vendors that they could carry on business without fear or harassment from authorities. He said the rules for implementing the Act, passed by Parliament on February 20, 2014, would be framed shortly and the urban local bodies would have bylaws to help vendors. The Central policy ensures protection of the rights of urban street vendors and regulation of vending activity. Mr. Sorake advised vendors to make sure that their trade does not affect public life, such as movement of vehicular traffic and pedestrians. He said street vending has become an integral part of urban life as they meet certain daily requirements of citizens. The Act is aimed at ensuring social security to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, minorities and women engaged in vending activity. The Minister said the local bodies would start registration of vendors; conduct a survey, issue certificates to them from local authorities for carrying out trade without hindrance or harassment.
‘Mamool menace’D. Satyamurthy, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Urban Development, termed street vending a part of the pro-poor Asian culture, where fruits and vegetables are sold at cheaper rates. Even eatables can be sold by them, but they should be insulated from the ‘mamool’ menace, he said.
BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayana said the Act ensures social security measures such as allowing them to put up sheds and raise loans once the rules are framed.
T.K. Anil Kumar, Urban Development Secretary, called upon urban local bodies to formulate programmes to implement the measures by constituting town vending committees.
It also looks into the interests of pedestrians as separate places are designated for vending activity.
Municipal Administration Director N. Manjula and Chief Project Officer H.P. Nagaraj spoke at the event.
