The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Construction of hawkers’ complex begins

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Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Construction of hawkers’ complex begins

Staff Reporter

They demand ‘town vending committees’ to implement the national policy on urban street vendors

Photo: S. S. Kumar

TAKING TO STREETS: Vendors staging a demonstration near Memorial Hall in Chennai demanding implementation of the national policy on urban street vendors. —

Chennai: The construction of a multi-storeyed commercial complex to house hawkers in Pondy Bazaar began on Monday. The project, estimated to cost Rs. 6.50 crore, will provide retail space to hawkers from T. Nagar and Pondy Bazaar.

Mayor M. Subramanian, who participated in the ground-breaking ceremony, said the three-storeyed building would have an area of 30,000 square feet. It would be equipped with facilities for water and sanitation.

The commercial complex was being built to resettle hawkers, as directed by the High Court-appointed Hawking Committee. The Mayor said the construction would be completed by the end of August.

However, hawkers in the locality are worried that all of them may not be accommodated in the complex.

According to representatives of the Unorganised Workers Federation, a similar resettlement was done for hawkers in the Lily Pond Complex near Chennai Central, but only 133 shops had been allocated by conducting a draw of lots in December 2007. The draw of lots for another 244 shops had still not been conducted.

Street vendors and hawkers have demanded the formation of ‘town vending committees’ for the implementation of the national policy on urban street vendors. The vendors, including a large number of narikuravas, staged an agitation on Tuesday near the Memorial Hall in the city under the banner of the Unorganised Workers Federation to express their concerns.

R. Leelavathi, State secretary of the federation, said the formation of town vending committees — with representatives from street vendors, the Chennai Corporation, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the police — would protect the livelihood of thousands employed in the unorganised sector. Those employed in the organised sector may also be pushed into the informal sector due to the economic slowdown, she said.

According to the national policy, the vending committees would adopt a participatory approach to provide identity cards to vendors and hawkers and identify zones where hawking could be carried out. The committees could also assist hawkers to get small loans from local banks.

National Association of Street Vendors of India executive Committee Member V. Maheswaran said the policy, formulated in 2004, covered those vendors who offered goods or services to the public without having a built-up structure. They may be stationary by occupying space on the pavements, or may be mobile carrying their wares on push carts or in cycles or baskets on their heads, he added.

He said a couple of States, including Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, and the National Capital Territory Delhi had implemented the policy and constructed shops for such vendors. Uttar Pradesh has prepared a model draft.

Pennurimai Iyakkam, Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Union, Indian Republican Trade Union, Allikulam Recycled Products Vendors Union, Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Vagirivel Narikuravar Thozhilalar Sangam, Koyambedu Thiruvallur Workers Union and NASVI participated in the demonstration. Petitions were submitted to government departments concerned.

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