UNITED WE SIT: Delegates of street vendors participating in a public hearing in New Delhi on Wednesday .— PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSPAKAR

NEW DELHI: Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on Wednesday said Delhi would be developed as a model city by creating special hawking zones to streamline the functioning of vendors and hawkers.

He also assured that the Centre would try and take some steps for the welfare of vendors through its ambitious Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

Taking part in a "jan sunwai" of street vendors organised by non-government organisation "Manushi Sangathan" in association with the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), Mr. Reddy said: "We will develop special zones for hawkers in the Capital so that thousands of vendors can sell their wares. It will set an example for other States to follow."

Stating that solving the problems of hawkers and vendors was a State subject and the Urban Development Ministry could implement its projects in this connection in Delhi only, the Union Minister said it had been decided to conduct a scientific survey of hawkers and vendors in Delhi by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to get a real picture on the issue.

Asserting that the Union Government was keen on implementing the national policy for vendors announced in January 2004, Mr. Reddy said the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act 2006 granting one-year moratorium on sealing and demolition drives also talks about addressing problems being faced by street vendors who are an integral part of any market system and are found in West and European nations also.

Highlighting the success of model bazaar of hawkers at Sewa Nagar in Delhi, Manushi's Madhu Kishwar said when the Government could create spaces for parking, vendors and hawkers also have the right to demand special zones for them.

"We are not against developing modern and mega cities and shopping malls. We want to let shopping mall owners and multi-national companies compete with our vendors."

Self-employed

Well known social activist and Self-Employed Women's Association leader Ela Bhatt rued that despite her three-decade-long struggle for street vendors and favourable decision from various courts, nothing has changed for vendors and hawkers, mainly due to government apathy. Stating that vendors and hawkers are part of Indian culture and tradition, she demanded that the Government should immediately come out with plans for their welfare also.

Over 250 vendor unions from more than 60 cities and towns narrated their problems and grievances before the Union Minister.

Several important personalities including Union Minster of State for Poverty Alleviation Kumari Shailja, Planning Commission Member Syeda Hameed, columnist Tavleen Singh and Asian Heritage Foundation chairman Rajeev Sethi attended the "jan sunwai".

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