3 days ago
Kochi corporation starts distributing kiosks to rehabilitate street vendors
Kochi: As part of a move to rehabilitate street vendors in the city, the Kochi corporation started distributing kiosks, designed and procured by Cochin Smart Mission Limited, to them.
On Tuesday, 56 vendors in Fort Kochi received kiosks.
"The corporation is conducting the activities according to the 2014 Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act. The act specifies the identification, registration of vendors and establishment of vending zones. The elected town vending committee plays a crucial role in implementing the law. As per the law's recommendation, a survey was conducted with the help of various agencies, identifying 2,351 street vendors within the corporation limits.
A total of 69 vending zones have been approved to rehabilitate them," mayor M Anilkumar said.
By law, it was mandatory for municipalities to have a specific vending bylaw. Councillors P S Viju, Priya Prashanth, Antony Kureethra and Minimol V K were tasked with preparing the bylaw. The draft bylaw was then submitted to the govt with the approval of the town vending committee and the corporation council and received govt approval on Oct 9, 2023.
The vending plan was approved by the govt on June 27, 2024.
"It is a matter of pride that Kochi is the first in Kerala's urban local bodies to have an approved street vending bylaw, vending plan and recognised vending zones. The bylaw prepared by the corporation now serves as a guide for other municipalities," Anilkumar said.
The distribution of kiosks was inaugurated by the mayor at a ceremony presided over by deputy mayor K A Ansiya.
