Parliament nod to Bill to protect rights of urban street vendors

New Delhi: Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to regulate street vending activities and protect the rights of urban street vendors besides ensuring steps against harassment by police and civic authorities.

The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014, which provides for protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors was passed by Rajya Sabha today. The Lok Sabha had passed it on September 6 last year.

Allaying apprehensions of members about adequate representation to vendors and others in panels for decision like determination of natural market, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas said, "40 per cent members of the Town Vending Committees will be from amongst street vendors including women and persons from SC/ST, etc categories."

The Bill provides for constitution of a Town Vending Authority in each Local Authority to ensure participatory decision making for aspects like determination of natural market, identification of vending zones, preparation of street vending plan and survey of street vendors among others.

She also said that a survey of street vendors would be taken at the earliest to ensure certificates to street vendors.

Vyas said street vendors constitute an integral part of the urban economy and is not only a source of self-employment to the poor in cities and towns but also a means to provide affordable and convenient services to a majority of urban population, especially the common man.

Earlier, Naresh Agarwal (SP) said it should be ensured that the vendors are not harassed by bureaucrats for giving no objection certificates.

The bill got support from members belonging to various parties including SP, BJP, BSP and the Left.