The Hindu 19.01.2010
Street vendors plan demonstrations
Staff Reporter
CHENNAI: Members of the National Association of Street Vendors of India plan to hold protest demonstrations on Wednesday demanding implementation of the National Policy Urban Street Vendors 2009.
Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, member of National Executive Committee V. Mageshvaran said the Prime Minister had written letters to all Chief Ministers in August last year to implement the policy, take steps for reservation of space for street vending and execute government welfare schemes for street vendors. However, the policy is yet to be implemented in Tamil Nadu.
The State government is also yet to establish a welfare board for petty shop-owners and street vendors, which was announced last year, he said.
Association coordinator Y. Aruldoss said that the policy mandates that a zone vending committee must be set up and vending zones must be demarcated in development plan.
It also demands that vendors be provided identity cards and registration system be launched for street vending.
There are nearly two lakh street vendors in the city. Only some of the vendors who are evicted from their existing vending space are allotted alternative space, he said.
The demonstration would be held in the Corporations across the State on Wednesday.
In Chennai, it would be conducted near Memorial Hall.
