Govt gets ready but vendors don't want the `unfriendly' Act

New Delhi:

Almost two years after the Street Vendors' Act was passed, Delhi government is preparing to implement it.However, street vendors aren't happy . The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) has now written to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to make the draft more vendor-friendly .

According to the draft scheme, vendors can't cook, can work only from sunrise to sunset, can't leave goods at the site, won't get power or water connections, can't make noise to attract customers and also have to ensure patrons don't park in front of their stall. The scheme proposes fines ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 2,000 per day if these rules are flouted.

There will also be biometric registration of all street vendors who will have to display their certificate at the stall. Only voters registered in Delhi will be given certificates. Also, vendors will have to pay monthly charges to the civic bodies and, unlike the current practice, they won't be allowed to sell their certificates.

Vendors' associations say these clauses aren't practical.“There shouldn't be a blanket ban on cooking. It is impractical. The working hours are ridiculous. Electricity and water connections should be given wherever possible. The rules are not vendor-friendly and are against the basic spirit of the Act,“ said Arbind Singh, national coordinator, NASVI.

Associations also claim the scheme is aimed at weakening the role of the Town Vending Committee (TVC) as it proposes to give all powers to a nodal officer and local bodies.“There is no need for a nodal officer. Local bodies have the power to take decisions but they have to work on the recommendations of the TVC,“ Singh added.

Delhi government will have to conduct a survey to identify genuine vendors. As per the Act, all vendors present on the day of the survey will have to be considered.However, vendors' associations fear this may lead to an increase in new vendors.

“If the present scheme is implemented, it will only lead to more chaos and harassment of vendors,“ said Singh.

When contacted, a senior government official said, “We will look into the suggestions made by NASVI. However, we can't promise that the policy will be completely changed.“