Delhi:EROS TIMES: Addressing the members of the Town Vending Committees and street vendors in the Delhi Secretariat on Friday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the members as well as the MCD officials to start the survey soon to resolve the issue of displacement of street vendors by the authorities across the city.
He also announced that the Delhi government will bear the cost of the survey, which is to be conducted by Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “I am relieved that the survey work is initiating across Delhi, and I believe the government must ensure employment to the people when the country is suffering from major unemployment and economic slowdown.
We often hear about incidents where street vendors are removed from their places by the authorities.
In countries other than India, street vendors are encouraged because it is a source of employment for the people living there. Governments should work towards providing employment rather than detracting it.”
He also said that contrary to India, where the street vendors are considered encroaches and a major cause of traffic jams, vendors in other countries are backed by legal support by their governments.
The same system should be established in India.
CM Kejriwal assured the street vendors that after the survey is conducted, vendors will be allotted a permanent space and no authority will be able to remove them.
“The survey will also observe places other than the street markets across the city, which will help generate employment on a large scale.
The whole administrative system covering street vendors is rotten which is causing major difficulties for the vendors. I want to request the MCD officials present amongst us to call a meeting for the TVCs by Tuesday.
The TVC meetings will decide and finalize the agencies which will carry out the survey. I was notified by the MCD officials that they do not have the required funds to carry out the TVC surveys. I told them that the Delhi government will provide funds for the survey.
I hope that the street vendors will not have to face any obstacles after the survey, and they will get legal backing and support for their places,” said the CM.
CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “I want to request the vendors to let the survey begin, and we will resolve all your issues. The industrialists and huge businesses have a problem with street vendors carrying out small scale businesses.
They have a problem with parallel businesses because they will be at loss. I promise you that I will not let injustice with you all prevail.”
Delhi PWD Minister Satyendra Jain said, “Vendors are often troubled by authorities for setting up shops on the streets, and corrupt officials often extract money from them.
To eradicate all these issues, a legal survey will be conducted initially. A certificate will be issued to the street vendors based on the survey with vendor details.
Details of their families will also be included in the same. The survey will be completed within the next three to four months and the vending spaces will be fixed thereafter.
This will help in fixing the vending spaces as well as the vending zones across the city. Our motive is to promote vending on a large scale. Delhi has around 3-4 lakh vendors, and the actual numbers will be revealed after the survey.
By fixing the vending spaces, we will be supporting 15-20 lakh people.
Honorable Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has stepped up to help the street vendors and I am sure that all their issues will be resolved soon.”
All municipal corporations required to conduct TVC surveys
After the notification of the Town Vending Committee formation, the Municipal corporation has to conduct a survey of the street vendors.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked the officials of the three corporations to start the survey at the earliest.
Committee to decide the vending spaces and zones
With the completion of the survey, the work of giving certificates to vendors will also be completed.
After clearance from the DDA, the government will give licenses to the street vendors.
The certificate will also contain information about the goods in which they deal. At the same time, there will be details about the zone and location.
It will also contain full information including the name, address, name of the family members of the operator.
Information to be obtained during surveys
-Which area in Delhi has the maximum number of street vendors?
– Detailed information of all street vendors
– The kind of shops operated by street vendors
– Number of customers who visit the shop
-Number of shops required in different areas and locations across Delhi
-Locations where street vending zones are required