Bill to protect street vendors to be passed soon: Maken

Mumbai: A bill to regulate street vendors in public areas and protect their rights is likely to be passed in the ongoing Budget Session. The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood & Regulation of Street Vending) Bill is likely to be passed in this ongoing Budget Session, Union Housing Development and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Ajay Maken said in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"We have proposed certain amendments to the Bill, which is currently pending with the standing committee. We expect it to be passed in the current session," he said. The ministry has proposed certain amendments in the Bill, which includes granting of hawkers' licences to 2.5 per cent of the population of any city.

"This Bill is aimed at regulating street vendors in public areas and protect their rights. With these amendments we will be able to organise street vendors and ensure that they are not creating nuisance for vehicular traffic as well as for pedestrians," Maken said. By legalising street vending, municipal corporations will also be able to generate revenues, he said. As per the provisions of the Bill, tabled in the last Monsoon Session of Parliament, anyone over 14 years of age can register with the town vending committee and get registered for carrying out business.

Once registered with the local authorities, vendors will be provided with identity cards which will allow them to sell their products in vending zones allocated to them. The Bill will also help authorities regulate hawkers

in public areas such as pavements and roads. It also provides for setting up of vending zones for hawkers with minimal restrictions and without fear of being fined by municipal authorities, he said.

"Town vending committees are expected to submit its report on vending and non-vending zones soon," Maken said. According to the ministry, there are 10 million street vendors with Mumbai alone accounting for 2,50,000; Delhi has 2,00,000; over 1,50,000 in Kolkata and and over 100,000 in Ahmedabad. The minister met the family members of a hawker who died during an eviction drive at Vakola in Mumbai in January.