Karnataka - Mangalore   

Fighting for their right to earn a living

MANGALORE: Not much seems to have changed after the Supreme Court made an observation favourable to street vendors in 1989 in Sodhan Singh versus New Delhi Corporation (NDC) case.

The court had said: “If properly regulated… (the street vendors) can considerably add to the comfort and convenience of the general public, by making available articles of every day use at a comparatively low price. An ordinary person…while hurrying towards his home after a day's work, can pick up these articles without deviating from his way …”

Though the National Policy on Urban Street Vendors 2009 accords them legal status to carry on business in cities and towns, the vendors continue to be at the receiving end. The recent drive by the Mangalore City Corporation to evict the vendors instead of providing them proper alternative as mandated by the policy is a case in point.

The drive, resorted through dedicated vehicle menacingly christened Civic Tiger, gives credence to their grouse that they are treated more as nuisance than as an important players in the supposed growth story of India.

Eviction, to be the last option, could only be resorted to after due notice, the policy insists. The confiscated goods are to be given back.

The national policy too recognises that “street vendors provide valuable services to the urban masses while eking out a living through their own enterprise, limited resources and labour… They also contribute significantly to local economic growth and vitality of the urban economies.”

Acknowledging that “the street vendors assist the government in combating unemployment and poverty,” it expects “the State to protect the right of these micro-entrepreneurs to earn an honest living.”

Supreme Court has pointed out in one case, “The right to carry on with trade … cannot be denied on the ground that the streets are meant exclusively for (pedestrian) passing…and no other use.”

The national policy mandates development of markets where they are allowed to trade on time-sharing basis by collecting monthly charges; provides for week-end markets in public grounds, specific provisions for them in master plans; their registration; promoting self-compliance among them; promoting their organisations into unions to facilitate their empowerment; setting up participatory mechanisms; schooling and rehabilitation of child vendors; social security in the form of pension or insurance; and access to borrow.

The policy mandates formation of Town Vending Committees (TVC), involving market and trader associations – something that is not heard of in Mangalore. TVC, through participatory approach, is expected to supervise the entire process of planning, organisation and regulation of street vending.

The stated objective of the policy is to provide “supportive environment for the vast mass of urban street vendors … (while preventing) overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in public space and streets.”

The urban India, Mangalore in particular, is miles away from realising this objective.

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