Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)   

Mangalore, Dec 15: Arbind Singh, president of the Bhopal-based National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) made a plea for an uniform implementation of a national policy for street vendors in all states in the nation especially in Karnataka state with immediate effect, as they have no place for survival.   

Speaking to media persons in the city here recently, he said that the National Commission on Enterprises in Informal and Unorganized Sector (NCEIUS) constituted by the Government of India had recommended certain changes in the national policy and also prepared the Street Vendor Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Trade Bill 2007, which is to be introduced in the Parliament.   

He pointed out that street vendors were an important segment of the market system in India. Even though they were in the casual sector, their importance to the financially backward regions of the society has to be gauged and studied. Civic bodies and civic societies cannot just wish them away, he argued.

Further he emphasized that a state policy should be drafted immediately in accordance with the national policy for street vendors. In particular reference to street vending within Mangalore City Corporation limits, Singh suggested that the MCC should conduct a survey of all street vendors in the city and a town vending committee must be constituted with representation from street vendors.

Further, he advised that all vendors must be registered and should be accommodated in the vending zones. He said that NASVI was fighting for the issues affecting street vendors including eviction by city corporations, lack of space and also working towards strengthening street vendor’s organization.

Moreover he opined that micro-finance and insurance facilities should be extended to street vendors too.