Times of India: Bengaluru: Tuesday,
February 14, 2017.
Amanullah
Sharif has been vending fruits in Shivajinagar for 58 years. Now 74, Sharif
knows everything there is to know about his fellow vendors in Russel Square
area. "Everybody here wants a licence. Some of them have been here for
decades, but still have to face the abuses hurled at them by cops and civic
officials. They are also forcefully removed from the area," he says.
Sharif and
other vendors stress the importance of acquiring a licence or a vending
certificate as the government calls it. "I applied for my licence four
years ago, but still haven't got it," he says. Upon paying a fee, licence
holders get the right to sell their goods in specified hawking zones.
Since
eviction is a a constant threat for street vendors, licenses are in high
demand. "A licence gives you an identity. It also allows you to apply for
other government identification," says another vendor.
"I moved
my cart to a different location, as many of the carts in the area where I
parked earlier were removed by cops," said Jameela S. Now, Jameela's cart
is strategically placed in front of a proper shop. She says that it's safer
this way as she is less likely to be picked on by the authorities.
However, none
of the vendors spoken to seemed to be aware of the Street Vendors (protection
of livelihood and regulation of street vending) Act, passed in 2014. A reason
for this might be that while the Kannada translation of the act was released in
late 2014/early 2015, the translation of the rules was released only in
October-November 2016.
Drafted to
protect their rights, the law states that no vendor can be evicted from
designated vending zones. It also says that following a survey, all vendors
must be granted licenses. The act also stipulates formation of a town vending
committee (TVC), with 40% of its members being drawn from the vending
community, to decide on vending zones. But three years on, nothing much seems to
have been done.
"A
similar central government scheme, the National Urban Livelihoods Mission
(NULM), has been implemented in several districts of the state. However, the
Palike hasn't taken any such step in the capital," says Lekha Adavi of the
Alternate Law Forum (ALF).
"There
are approximately 2 to 3 lakh street vendors in Benglauru; however, on filing
an RTI, we found out that the BBMP had told the directorate of municipal
administration (DMA) that there were only 5,000 of them. We sought clarification
from the BBMP through another RTI, but are yet to hear from them," she
says.
While a
licence is supposed to give vendors the right to sell goods without the
constant threat of eviction, Lekha recalls a recent incident in Rajajinagar
where 65 licensed vendors were evicted from a designated vending zone. The
reason being a PIL filed by a resident who claimed these people were
encroaching the footpath, and harassing female residents and shoppers.
BBMP'S
RESPONSE
Three years
after the enactment of a law to protect the rights of urban street vendors and
regulate street vending activities, the BBMP has no clue about the exact number
of street vendors in the city.
"I'm
discussing the setting up of the town vending committee. There are certain
technical and legal issues that need to be addressed first. Once the committee
is set up, we'll decide on the vending zones," said Sarfaraz Khan, joint
commissioner health and SWM, BBMP.
"There
is no fixed number of street vendors. The count increase every day with the
opening of a new park or playground. We won't have a proper number until the
survey is carried out," he added. The survey, he said, will be carried out
shortly.
TIMES VIEW
Street
vendors are often seen as encroachers. It's easy to crack the whip on these
small-time sellers, most of whom aren't even aware that they are protected
under law. What's worse, even those who want to procure licences and set up
stalls legally have been waiting for years, only exposing the lax attitude of
the authorities concerned. The BBMP cannot pretend to be a tough taskmaster
till it gets its act together. Demarcated hawking zones can actually spare our
roads and pavements of much clutter, and permits for vendors can streamline the
whole segment. But this can happen only when all stakeholders earnestly come
together.
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