Latest news with #StreetVendorsAct
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Paper Plans, Pavement Chaos: NMC Yet To Demarcate 43 Hawking Zones
Nagpur: More than four years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced thousands into street vending for survival, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) failed to legally accommodate even a fraction of the city's street vendors. Out of an estimated 50,000 hawkers in Nagpur, only 1,225 were issued official licences. Shockingly, even among the 3,149 hawkers who were registered and authorised to vote in the formation of the city's Town Vending Committee — a key step under the Street Vendors Act — most remain unlicensed and without any designated space. This stark mismatch exposes the civic body's failure to translate policy into action, leaving thousands vulnerable to eviction while footpaths and roads continue to be overrun in the absence of proper planning. According to official data, the zones with the highest number of licences issued — Laxmi Nagar (176), Dharampeth (250), and Hanuman Nagar (81) — account for only a fraction of the vendors on the ground. Zones like Gandhibagh (109), Sataranjipura (77), Lakadganj (105), and Ashi Nagar (41) reflect similarly dismal figures. Mangalwari zone has seen only 91 licences issued so far. "What makes the situation worse is the stalled implementation of the 2014 Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act," said TVC member and hawkers' union leader Abdul Razzaq Qureshi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Although 3,149 hawkers across all 10 zones were authorised to cast their votes in the election of Town Vending Committee (TVC) — the statutory body responsible for vendor regulation — the civic body failed to translate this democratic mandate into action, revealed data obtained from the NMC's town vending committee department. Zones like Dhantoli (859 voters), Dharampeth (451), Gandhibagh (427), and Laxmi Nagar (239) had significant participation, underscoring hawkers' eagerness for formal inclusion. The TVC finalised 43 hawking zones and even received approval from the state's urban development department. "Yet, the actual demarcation of these zones remains pending with the NMC's market department. This delay has effectively paralysed the licensing process and deepened the regulatory vacuum," pointed out Qureshi. Instead of rolling out a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy, the NMC has focused its enforcement selectively — particularly on Sitabuldi main road, where hawkers are being repeatedly cleared to maintain a hawker-free zone. In the rest of the city, however, anti-encroachment drives have been inconsistent and largely ineffective. Vendors cleared in the morning are often back by the evening, underlining the futility of force-driven tactics. Activists and urban planners have long warned against this piecemeal approach. "You cannot solve a structural crisis with arbitrary removals. Hawkers are part of the urban economy and need designated space, not persecution," said a local urban researcher. The consequences are dire for both vendors and pedestrians. Footpaths in commercial zones like Dharampeth, Nehru Nagar, and Dhantoli remain choked, while key junctions in Gandhibagh and Sitabuldi are plagued by traffic snarls due to encroachments on carriageways. BOX Street vendors' woes Zones---Hawkers who cast votes—Licences to Hawkers Laxmi Nagar---239---176 Dharampeth---451---250 Hanuman Nagar---174---81 Dhantoli---859---161 Nehru Nagar---233---126 Gandhibagh---427---109 Satranjipura---147---77 Lakadganj---288---105 Ashi Nagar---134---41 Mangalwari---197---91
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Chennai to form zone-level town vending committees; elections for vendor reps on June 26
CHENNAI: The city corporation has passed a resolution to constitute zone-level town vending committees with the concerned regional deputy commissioner as the chairperson, based on a Madras High Court order in March this year. The HC had directed to constitute zonal level vending committees to fast-track the demarcation of vending and non-vending zones. The committees will comprise ACP (Law & Order), ACP (Traffic), a zonal executive engineer, six representatives of street vendors, a traders' association representative, two representatives from NGOs and other community-based organisations, and one representative from the resident welfare association. Elections for electing the six members among street vendors to the committees are to be held at the zonal level on June 26 from 9 am to 5 pm. The counting will be held the next day. The city corporation earlier had a central 15-member town vending committee, headed by the corporation commissioner, constituted in 2023. This was after the high court dissolved the zone-level town vending committees constituted in 2018 for allegedly being formed in violation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014. 'The central committee could not provide adequate representation to the street vendors. Several vendors had asked for the zonal committees to be formed again so that there is a better chance of their issues being addressed,' Chennai Street Vendors Association president C Thiruvettai said. Through a survey, the corporation had registered 35,588 street vendors.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- The Hindu
Street vendors knock on GHMC's door against harassment
Street vendors from across the city arrived at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's grievance redressal platform 'Prajavani' on Monday, with complaints against removal of pushcarts by the police, and non-implementation of the The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The 30 to 40 street vendors who arrived at the GHMC headquarters were representing hawkers from several areas, including Ameerpet, Dilsukhnagar, Kothapet, Saroornagar, Dilsukhnagar, Dammaiguda, Secunderabad and several others. They complained about Operation ROPE (Removal of Obstructive Parking & Encroachments) by the Traffic Police, which has majorly impacted the livelihood of the pushcart vendors. In the name of the operation, the police were removing and destroying the pushcarts, they said. Despite shifting to the lanes and bylanes, the vendors got no respite, and the police continued to impose fines and take away the weights, balances, and commodities as a threat, they said. 'Very recently, they deployed earthmovers to destroy the pushcarts near Saroornagar Rythu Bazar. The action was taken without any notice, and about 80 vendors were affected by it. They have had no work for the past few days. How will they live?' questioned Shree, Director of the Informal Labourers and Workers Federation, who led the delegation along with the National Hawkers Federation. The Street Vendors Act, 2014 exists only on paper, with a large number of vendors having the cards issued by GHMC, but not allotted any vending space, she complained. Two vendors each were selected from various locations of the city, to represent the issue, said. About four to five vendors were allowed inside the Prajavani programme to air their grievance, while all others were made to stay outside. Meanwhile, two children from Moosapet were brought to the Prajavani programme with a request for development of a colony park. Space allocated for park in Anjaneyanagar colony was encroached, and was cleared by the authorities, but ₹50 lakh sanctioned earlier for development of the park has not been released, they said. A total 62 complaints were received at the GHMC headquarters, while 104 complaints came through the programme conducted at the six zonal headquarters, a statement from GHMC informed. Majority were complaints pertaining to the Town Planning department.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Shanghumugham vendor relocation to be finalized soon
T'puram: Corporation is likely to take a final decision this week on rehabilitation of vendors at newly constructed kiosks at Shanghumugham Beach, as part of the ongoing beach beautification project. A crucial meeting is scheduled for Thursday between corporation secretary and ten traders who are currently opposing the relocation move. Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S confirmed that the civic body is hopeful of reaching an agreement that would enable the rehabilitation process to be completed by June and the revamped beach to be opened to the public in July. "Currently, only ten traders are resisting relocation. We have called a meeting this week to address their concerns and persuade them to cooperate. If all goes well, we aim to complete the process within a month and open the beach by July," Jahamgeer said. Last month, corporation held discussions with the Town Vending Committee (TVC), which agreed to relocate vendors currently occupying areas designated for new seating arrangements for tourists and visitors. The TVC, a statutory body formed under the Street Vendors Act, plays a vital role in regulating vendor welfare, issuing vending certificates and managing vendor locations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative sua licença do antivírus agora Clique aqui Undo While most traders initially opposed the move, backed by trade unions, the situation has since evolved. Corporation launched a screening process to prevent unauthorized vending at the site. The number of registered vendors increased from 95 to 116 following heightened interest in operating at the upgraded beachfront. Among them, 16 food vendors who previously ran street food stalls will be shifted to 16 newly constructed kiosks. Allocation will be done based on vendor seniority, officials said. The Shanghumugham Beach beautification project is a joint initiative of the state tourism department, Smart City Thiruvananthapuram, corporation and district tourism promotion council.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
First Town Vending Committee meet held in Vijayawada
VIJAYAWADA: Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra held the first meeting of the Town Vending Committee on Thursday, aiming to address street vendors' issues and reduce conflicts with traders. Formed as per the Supreme Court's directives, the 19-member committee includes the commissioner as chairman, along with the medical officer, planning officer, town project officer, police officials, bankers, a legal advisor, an insurance representative, seven street vendors from various sectors, two corporators, and NGOs. During the meeting, he cited a 2018 survey that identified approximately 17,000 street vendors across the city. He directed officials to conduct a fresh survey to ascertain the current number of vendors. He emphasised that under the Street Vendors Act, VMC will provide necessary facilities to vendors, allowing them to operate in designated Red, Green, and Amber zones. He assured the panel would work to resolve vendors' concerns and support their livelihoods. Chief City Planner Sanjay Ratna Kumar and other senior officials were present.
