Street Vendors Act 2014 is yet to be implemented: NASVI

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) has pointed out that despite the presence of approximately 33,000 street vendors, out of which about 27,000 are certified street vendors and 19573 beneficiaries of the Prime Minister's Street Vendors Fund (SVANidhi) scheme, the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regularization of Street Vending) Act of 2014 has not been implemented by the government.

NASVI pointed out several problems faced by the street vendors of the city, including delays in surveys and leaving out street vendors from the survey, regular evictions, harassment, non-creation of vending zones, irregular TVC meetings, and the absence of a grievance redressal cell for the vendors. They pointed out that out of 40 zones, 39 markets were surveyed, and only 3 have been officially notified by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) as vending zones, namely, GNB Road-Khaugali, Panbazar Phul Gall, and Silpukhuri. While the oldest markets date back up to 80 years, the new ones are about 15 years old.

All 40 markets have reported related National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) City Officials or Community Resource Persons (CRP) for PM SVAnidhi. 22 out of 40 markets provide benefits to street vendors, including access to infrastructure, financial support, or other assistance to improve their livelihoods. Yet, 28 out of 40 markets have experienced issues related to the eviction process, causing serious financial losses and negatively impacting the ability of street vendors to conduct their business.

It was also pointed out that the eviction rate in the surveyed and PM SVAnidhi beneficiary markets stands at 70 per cent underscoring the vulnerability of this sector in Guwahati, and the same number of vendors have mentioned facing harassment. Also, sanitation, childcare, or any other basic facilities were reportedly not found consistently in any of the 40 markets. They cited the example of the arrest of Madan Bhagat Shah, a street vendor leader from Dibrugarh, who was arrested during a meeting for vendors' rights in the vandalized livelihood. They also mentioned that harassment issues are a concerning trend, with reports indicating violence against women within the markets, adding that three markets, namely, the Ghoramara, Latashil, and ISBT markets, have reported facing violence and sexual abuse while vending in the concerned markets. Reports of inhumane treatment and insensitivity towards women vendors, including allegations of mistreatment, were also pointed out by police authorities.

They demanded the implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Vending Zones) Act, 2014, mentioning that the judgement of the Gauhati High Court in case no. WP(C)/5042/2014 linked with cases no. I.A. (Civil)/1878/2017 and Cont. Case(C)/335/2017 establishes the power and validates its protection towards the street vendors. They also pointed out that after repeatedly acknowledging street vendors as an integral part of the economy by the President and Prime Minister of India, severe failure has been noticed towards establishing rehabilitation, and frequent evictions have not been given attention. They also mentioned that the Street Vending Regulation Rules published by the Assam Government in 2020 are destroying the livelihood of street vendors. They also demanded that the vendors evicted from Six Mile be re-established and relocated, that Town Vending Committee reforms be approved, and that evictions like those on November 3, 2022, not be repeated.

Also read:   PM SVANidhi scheme helped street business in Assam: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

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