Not one town vending panel yet

It has been three months since the Street Vendors Act was notified

Business as usual:For street vendors, the biggest concern is the absence of Town Vending Committees, which will have the authority to issue licences and demarcate spaces.File Photo

On January 7 this year, the Delhi government had notified the Delhi Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2016 for turning street vending into an organised sector. Three months later, the amended Act remains only on paper with no progress towards its implementation.

For the thousands of street vendors in the city, their biggest concern has been the absence of Town Vending Committees (TVCs), which will have the authority to conduct surveys, issue licences, demarcate spaces for vending and so on. In the amended rules, the Delhi government has taken the task of formation of TVCs on its shoulders whereas earlier it was to be done by the respective municipal corporations. More importantly, it states that one TVC has to be constituted in a group of four wards, apart from one each under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

“Since the Delhi government took the onus of TVCs on itself, it must deliver at the earliest. We met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier this month seeking an update on the process. He had asked us to follow up by mid-April saying he had scheduled a meeting with the urban development department. But now, we are being told that everyone is busy with the odd-even drive,” said Arbind Sagar, national coordinator, National Association for Street Vendors of India (NASVI).

So far, not even a single TVC has been formed, he added.

When The Hindu contacted NDMC to know about the status of the TVC in its area, its chairperson Naresh Kumar said, “As per the rule, we had recommended names of three officials who would represent the council in the TVC. But, the government hasn't yet taken a final call on it. Besides, the matter is also under subjudice now as a case on it is being fought in the High Court.” According to the Act, the 30-member TVCs shall have 12 elected members form street vendors while the remaining others have to nominated by the Delhi government.

“The government initially has to form TVCs by way of nomination and after the survey and issue of certificate of Town Vending, election will be conducted to elect the TVCs. We have to form TVCs in all 70 constituencies which is a mammoth task and the nomination process for all of them obviously takes time,” said a senior official.

Government officials added that the delay is also due to confusion over who has to form the TVCs, even though the Act is quite clear about it.