Though nine months have passed after the reopening of the renovated S.M. Street, the special vending zones planned for the relocation of street vendors in the area are yet to become a reality. Not even a single space has been identified in the city for setting up the proposed vending zone, earlier planned by the Ministry of Urban Affairs for street vendors under the National Urban Livelihood Mission.
Some of the street vendors in the area complained that they were facing severe opposition from traders as they believed that vendors were obstructing the visibility of shops and causing annoyance to shoppers. “Many a time, they blame us for losses in their business, especially during festive seasons,” a street vendor claimed.
Most street vendors now support the idea of vending zones. But they demand a convenient space closer to the existing location and not far away from the vicinity of shoppers.
However, merchant organisation leaders said the vending zone proposal hanged in the balance though Kozhikode had been identified as one of the 14 townships in the State to have an exclusive Street Vending Plan (SVP). Though a survey conducted by the Kudumbasree Mission along with a group of student volunteers had managed to collect the details of all street vendors and their demands for relocation, it remained on the paper, they said.
Trade union leaders said the Corporation-level Street Vending Committee, which was formed several years ago giving more representation to the street vendors’ community, had not met regularly to discuss the priority areas and finalise suitable spots for the vendors’ relocation. The reason, according to the committee members, was the lukewarm response of the main leaders of the street vendors’ community in the city.
It was in 2015 that the Street Vending Plan was approved for the city with a Central aid of ₹3.5 crore. However, only a small portion of the fund was spent, and that too for carrying out a field survey.
