Members of Madurai District Roadside Vendors’ Association under the aegis of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) submitted a petition at the District Collectorate here on Wednesday, demanding implementation of Street Vendors Act to protect their interests.
“We are under constant threat and harassment from local corporation officials and policemen in the area and are not able to carry out our livelihood activities properly in the absence of any rights or laws protecting us,” the vendors said.
M. Nandasingh, district president of the association, said there was an immediate need to implement the Street Vendors Act, 2014, which would ensure protection to their livelihood.
“There should be teams comprising corporation officials, policemen and street vendors for every area which will work towards the protection of the interests of the vendors in the particular area. Furthermore, a census of street vendors’ needs to be taken and they should be provided with identification cards. The vendors should not be asked to vacate from the spots they were doing business from till the process of identification is over,” he added.
The association members further said that specific areas should be allotted to vendors, and it should be done through randomisation and that the process should be fair.
