Street vendors set for makeover in Haryana

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

Have you ever wondered how much income is generated by street vendors operating in 80 cities of Haryana annually? Though they generate an annual income of nearly Rs 1,500 crore, they are unable to derive any benefit of the government schemes, as they work in the unorganised sector. However, they would be part of the formal economy, as a private firm entrusted with the task (by the state government) of their identification and creating plans for them has submitted its draft report for all 80 cities comprising municipal corporations, municipal councils and committees.

“Last year, we got the project of preparing plans for street vendors of four clusters in Haryana. The vendors were to be identified in 80 urban local bodies (ULBs) of the state. They have been clubbed in four clusters, namely Hisar, Ambala, Gurugram and Rohtak,” said Sudhkar Sharma, senior manager (GIS Operations), Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd (REPL).

The task consists of identification of street vendors, GIS-based mapping, surveys through mobile application and sensitisation of street vendors. It also included capturing photographs and biometric identification of vendors, preparing their ID cards, MIS software, de-duplication software, street vending plan and preparation of detailed implementation plan (DIP).

According to the report, there are 1,02,319 vendors operating across 80 cities of Haryana. These vendors earn anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 500 each per day. So a vendor earn between Rs 9,000 and Rs 15,000 monthly.

As per the report, out of total vendors in the state, 92% of them are males while the rest are women. Also, 61% of the vendors in the state operate from permanent station while the remaining 39% are mobile.

A majority of the vendors are engaged in selling vegetables (26%), followed by fruits (23%) and other food items (18%).

Since the database of street vendors has been prepared city-wise, it can be utilised for various purposes — both by the vendors and the municipal authorities.

The state had already approved Haryana Street Vendor Rules-2016 in the mid of 2016. The report, if implemented successfully, will give recognition to street vendors in their daily trade. According to the report, each of them will have a government-demarcated space for them and they can run their trade without the fear of being harassed by police and other government employees. Vendors have to often face exploitation and threat of physical abuse at the hands of these officials.

The street vendors would also be provided with an identity card which can help them avail any facility provided by the government. 

Once the plan is implemented, their data can be linked to social security schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, insurance, pension scheme and skill development.

Findings of report

1,02,319  Number of vendors 

Total cities surveyed: 80

Daily income: Rs 300- Rs 500