Mumbai: Domicile certificate must for hawking; many left in lurch

Just like in Assam, where the final draft of Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC) dropped the name of around 40 lakh people because they could not submit documents to support their eligibility of citizens of the state, it seems that thousands of hawkers in the city too have been experiencing a similar situation.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been streamlining hawkers in the city and has also issued lists of eligible hawkers. They were sent letters asking to submit supporting documents to prove they have been in the same profession as professed and have been residing in the city for at least the past 15 years. Apart from other documents, they have to submit their domicile certificate too.

Domicile certificate is a document that certifies a person's residential status in a particular state. The certificate is used to avail various services provided by the government such as admissions, job placements, and the likes of it.

The civic administration is expecting to start distributing hawkers license in the city within the next two-three months, depending on the formation of the town vending committee after the election of the hawker's associations.

Meanwhile, the civic administration has sent out letters to around 89,797 eligible hawkers in the city to submit documents within 30 days of receiving the same. As hawkers have only 30 days time to submit all documents, a chunk of hawkers are worried they may lose their license to do business. "The hawking business was passed down by my father around 40 years ago. There was no demand of domicile certificate when the administration had allowed my father to do business in the city," said Rajmani Maurya, whose kiosk is near Lower Parel station. He added that he lives in a rented house and even the electricity bill is not issued in his name. "I am facing difficulties in acquiring a domicile certificate as it needs many supporting documents that I don't have and brokers are demanding between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for the same," said Maurya. Firoz Khan, who sells eggs near Vikroli station has had a similar experience.

Many hawkers believe they will not get a license if they do not submit the documents in time. "We will issue a license after verifying documents submitted by hawkers," said a senior official from the Market Department.

THE ISSUE AT HAND

• Domicile certificate is a document that certifies a person's residential status in a particular state. The certificate is used to avail various services provided by the government such as admissions, job placements, and the likes of it.
   
• The license is to be given to 89,797 hawkers