SC notice on footpath encroachment; street vendors may be affected
Updated: Sep 06, 2014 01:01:06pm
New Delhi, Sept 6 (KNN) The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and all states asking them what steps they have taken to remove encroachments on pavements and footpaths in the national capital, a development which can have implications for micro traders, and service units.
Street vending gives livelihood to millions of unemployed and unskilled migrants, who come from the villages. As street vending required minimal capital, lots of migrants and unskilled workers get into it.
The street side shops mainly house repair shops, food stalls and are the main distribution channel for the products like – small auto parts, shoes, toys, gadgets, stationery, books, fruits and vegetables.
A bench of Chief Justice R M Lodha and Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman has sought responses from the governments within 10 weeks on the PIL filed by Dhanesh Ieshdhan, chairman of NGO 'Voice of India' seeking its direction to frame guidelines for removing encroachments on footpath and pavements.
The petitioner alleged that the encroachment by street vendors, hawkers and parked vehicles puts life of the pedestrians in danger as there is hardly any space left on the pavements to walk forcing them to walk on to the roads.
The petitioner also alleged that massive corruption among civic authorities and police had led to anti-social elements encouraging encroachment of pavements and roads by vendors for payment of a weekly or monthly fee.
“Thousands of deaths per year in India take place as pedestrians are forced to walk on the road as the footpaths and half of road’s area is blocked by illegal shops and parking,” the petition said.
“This problem, faced by millions daily, is solid proof of delusive security being provided to the common people by government agencies such as the police and local administration,” the petition added.
However, in order to protect the rights of urban street vendors and regulate street vending activities in the country, the Centre had recently enacted the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014, which mandated municipalities to set up restriction free vending zones/night bazaars where hawkers can sell their wares without being harassed by the authorities.
As per the Act, after a survey is made by the Town Vending Committee to identify street vendors, they have to be accommodated in the vending zones subject to the norm conforming to two and a half per cent of population of the area and the holding capacity of the vending zones.
Recently, the Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that the street Vendors should be aware of the provisions of the street vendors act and should remain vigilant and proactive in getting the law implemented.
The vendors across country should take services of the Legal Services Authority in getting their rights enforced, he had said at the national conference of street vendors organised by National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI). (KNN/SD)
Street vending gives livelihood to millions of unemployed and unskilled migrants, who come from the villages. As street vending required minimal capital, lots of migrants and unskilled workers get into it.
The street side shops mainly house repair shops, food stalls and are the main distribution channel for the products like – small auto parts, shoes, toys, gadgets, stationery, books, fruits and vegetables.
A bench of Chief Justice R M Lodha and Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman has sought responses from the governments within 10 weeks on the PIL filed by Dhanesh Ieshdhan, chairman of NGO 'Voice of India' seeking its direction to frame guidelines for removing encroachments on footpath and pavements.
The petitioner alleged that the encroachment by street vendors, hawkers and parked vehicles puts life of the pedestrians in danger as there is hardly any space left on the pavements to walk forcing them to walk on to the roads.
The petitioner also alleged that massive corruption among civic authorities and police had led to anti-social elements encouraging encroachment of pavements and roads by vendors for payment of a weekly or monthly fee.
“Thousands of deaths per year in India take place as pedestrians are forced to walk on the road as the footpaths and half of road’s area is blocked by illegal shops and parking,” the petition said.
“This problem, faced by millions daily, is solid proof of delusive security being provided to the common people by government agencies such as the police and local administration,” the petition added.
However, in order to protect the rights of urban street vendors and regulate street vending activities in the country, the Centre had recently enacted the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014, which mandated municipalities to set up restriction free vending zones/night bazaars where hawkers can sell their wares without being harassed by the authorities.
As per the Act, after a survey is made by the Town Vending Committee to identify street vendors, they have to be accommodated in the vending zones subject to the norm conforming to two and a half per cent of population of the area and the holding capacity of the vending zones.
Recently, the Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that the street Vendors should be aware of the provisions of the street vendors act and should remain vigilant and proactive in getting the law implemented.
The vendors across country should take services of the Legal Services Authority in getting their rights enforced, he had said at the national conference of street vendors organised by National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI). (KNN/SD)
Loading...
