New Delhi, Feb 11 (KNN) The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is contemplating over an idea to introduce ‘mobile shops’ concept for street vendors in the country under its National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).

The idea was floated at a recent ‘National Workshop on Street Vendors’ organised by the Ministry, where several suggestions came up. One of the suggestions was to allow ‘mobile shop’ in country.

Secretary (Housing and Urban Affairs), Durga Shankar Mishra said “The ministry will consider it and find out a solution how we can provide funding (to mobile shops). Under the concept, the owner will be given license to do the mobile street vending.”

Speaking with KNN India with regard to ‘mobile shop’ concept for street vendors, President of National association of street vendors of India (NASVI), Arvind Singh said, “Under this concept, street vendors would get an authority to move from place to place by carrying their wares on push carts and can move where there is large customer base.”

He said when shop will be motorized, it will be easy for the street vendors to reach the targeted customers as per the customer needs and demands, rather than occupying a space or pavements and waiting for the customers.

Singh stated that the Vietnam is a best example, where this concept is successfully implemented.

In addition, mobile have different ways and it can be implemented in India also in different forms, he added.

At the workshop, Mishra mentioned that around 18 lakh street vendors have been identified so far in 2,430 cities across the country under the Street Vendors Act 2014 and over 2,344 ‘Street Vendor Committees’ have been constituted and nine lakh street vendors have been issued identity cards under the Act.

He said that street vendors need some protection as they are providing various services to the society.

Besides, a progress report, prepared by Centre for Civil Society (CSS), an NGO, over the implementation of Street Vendors Act, was released also released at the workshop.