The state government has thought of an innovative way to deal with the problem of hawkers occupying public spaces
MUMBAI: The state government has thought of an innovative way to deal with the problem of hawkers occupying public spaces.
It wants to create hawking zones in housing societies by amending the Development Control Rules, a suggestion that is bound to spark a furore.
The government also proposes to replace the system of giving licences to hawkers by simply registering them to promote competition. These suggestions are part of the hawking policy drafted by the state urban development department to regulate more than two lakh hawkers in the city, according to sources in the government. The draft also proposes to create more hawking zones across the city.
According to an official involved in the drafting of the policy document, a dedicated force of nearly 400 police personnel would be given to the civic body to strictly implement the Supreme Court guidelines of not allowing hawkers within 150 metres of public places, including railway stations, religious places, and education institutions.
The policy is on the lines of the National Hawkers Policy formulated by the central government. The Supreme Court had directed the central and the state governments to formulate a hawking policy, after which the SC guidelines would stand abolished.
“We consider hawkers an informal sector and an integrated part of society. The sector contributes to the GDP and helps control the prices of essential goods. While bringing in deterrent acts, the enforcement will be strengthened by providing urban local bodies [BMC in Mumbai] with a dedicated police force,” the official said.
In line with the national policy, the state has also proposed to do away with licences - issued by civic bodies — to hawkers. “Instead, they will be registered with ward offices and the central office. The registered hawkers will be allowed to hawk at prescribed areas and, in some cases, during a certain period. Their number will be restricted as specified areas will have only a required number of hawkers,” said the official.
The official said the policy draft also suggests that hawking places be created in housing societies by amending the Development Control Rules. Unions representing hawkers have, however, termed this as not feasible.
“We want the national policy to be implemented in toto. It suggests amendment in the Bombay Police Act and the BMC Act, while the state policy talks about separate stringent Acts. Secondly, no housing society will be willing to have hawkers on its premises,” said Sharad Rao of Municipal Mazdoor Union.
The official, however, said that the government wanted flexible implementation of the system rather than making it rigid by amending the existing Acts.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who has been representing hawkers, has welcomed the policy draft.
The draft has been sent to various departments, including home, planning, law and judiciary for their opinion. After incorporating their suggestions, the draft would be sent to the state cabinet for approval.
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