The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to accommodate around 16,000 stall owners with valid licences in hawking pitches proposed across the city. The proposal was discussed during the town vending committee (TVC) on Friday evening. However, hawkers unions opposed the move.
The main TVC meeting was purportedly held to discuss issues of zones 5 and 7, although the civic body reiterated that it wouldn't allow hawkers to do business within 150 metres of railway stations. In response, the hawkers' unions said as per the new Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending Act, the local body has to form the TVC and the TVC will survey vendors, issue them certificates and then decide on their relocation.
Dayashankar Singh, president of the Azad Hawkers Association, said around 16,000 stall owners in the city are seeking a transfer of their licences, as their old businesses have become outdated. "They aren't allowed to conduct business within 150 metres of railway stations as the civic body and police drive them away. If they are allowed to hold stalls instead of hawking spots, their business can continue," he said.
The decision on hawking pitches in Mumbai may get delayed once again, as one of the unions has approached court against excessive delays in releasing hawkers' voter lists. The hearing of the writ petition is scheduled for October 12.
Meanwhile, the All India Unorganised Workers Congress has approached the court and sought an intervention to the practice of driving away the hawkers by the police as well as the civic body. The union has demanded that voter lists of hawkers be given immediately to the labour commission, which can hold election to elect members for the town vending committee (TVC).
