Municipal Corporations create hindrance in implementation of Street Vendors Act, claims NASVI

National Association of Street Vendors of India claimed that even after five years, many crucial clauses of the Act are yet it be implemented. She claimed that it's due to the self-interest of municipal corporations that the Act is not getting implemented.

New Delhi: More than five years after the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 got President's assent, many crucial clauses of the Act are yet it be implemented, claimed National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI).

The association has sought the help of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for proper implementation of the Act.

Talking to ETV Bharat, Sangeeta Singh, a senior member of NASVI said that government has brought the Act in 2014 but even today many clauses of the Act are yet to be implemented.

She claimed that it's due to the self-interest of municipal corporations that the Act is not getting implemented.

"One crucial Clause of the Act is Town Vending Machine (TVM)...many of the states have not set up the TVM. The entire responsibility is on the concerned state government but the municipal corporations of those states do not want to regularise the street vendors," said Singh.

She said that eviction which is being carried by the municipal corporation is "basically extortion."

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"Street vendors are ready to get regularised and pay tax but because of the individual benefit, the municipal corporations are not doing it," said Singh.

She suggested the state government to carry out a survey to find out whether street vendors are creating congestion to the traffic.

"Politics will happen with the Act. We have approached the Urban Development secretary many times, and we are working with them," Singh said.

NASVI is an advocacy platform for street vendors across India and there are 1100 street vendors organisations across India.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs statistics, there are 10 million street vendors in India with Mumbai accounting for 250,000, Delhi has 450,000 and Kolkata accounting 150,000 street vendors.

Referring to be the use of single-use plastic by street vendors, Singh said that her organisation is creating awareness in this regard.

"However, it is not easy to claim that we have boycotted the use of single-use plastic. But what we need is an option, if we have one then certainly plastic will not be used," said Singh.