The Times of India            28.12.2013   

Formation of Hawkers' committee to be finalized next week

NASHIK: The representatives of various hawkers' organizations on Friday met with Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials to discuss the formation of a hawkers' committee as per the central government's National Hawkers' Policy in 2009. The committee is likely to be finalized next week.

Around 30 representatives were present at the meeting which took place at the civic body. The officials briefed representatives about the policy while the latter also presented their views about the committee.

Last month, the NMC had invited applications for the formation of the Hawkers' Committee (Town Vending Committee) for which it had received 52 applications.

An NMC official said, "We will select 24 people from these for the various sub-categories as per the policy. The list of the 52 people will be forwarded to the municipal commissioner, who will finalize it depending upon the organization's recommendations." He added that the members are likely to be finalized next week.

Shantaram Chavan the president of the Nashik District Hawkers Tapridharak Union said, "There should be a proportionate representation of hawkers from different organizations. As ours is the oldest organization that is registered with over 2,000 members. We may have one representative for every 400 hawkers of our organization," he said.

Prakash Korde, representative of Tuljabhavani Seva Sahakari Sanstha said, "The hawkers' committee would benefit hawkers and also provide employment to many." Korde added that traffic problems will also be solved to a major extent.

Krishnakumar Nerkar, Navnirman Seva Bhavi Sanstha representative said, "The discussion was fruitful and everyone was given the opportunity to present their view. There will be no fear of encroachments among hawkers but a sense of discipline will be maintained."

Members will be appointed for four sub-categories of the hawkers' committee. Of these, four, the state government recommended six members were recommended in the first sub-category. The NMC invited applications from citizens for the remaining three sub-categories through a public notice last month.

In sub-category number two, applications have been invited from representatives of hawkers' associations for 12 members, of which four will be women. In sub-category number three, applications for six members from resident welfare associations and community-based organizations have been invited. Of these six members, two will be women. The fourth sub-category is for other NGOs, representatives of professional groups like lawyers, doctors, real estate developers,

architects, etc, representatives of business or commercial organisations, representatives of scheduled banks and eminent citizens. In this sub-category, six members will be selected from which two will be women.