Number of street vendors pegged at 3,902

Rajinder S Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 13

The number of street vendors has increased from 2,803 to 3,902 in Panchkula. Their list has now been uploaded on the official website of the local Municipal Corporation and suggestions/objections have been invited from the public by July 27.

“We have uploaded details, including name, address, educational qualification and vending site of vendors on the website. Anybody can submit his or her objection/suggestion at the Sector 14 MC office,” said Rajesh Jogpal, MC Commissioner-cum-Administrator.

In the first phase, there were 1,562 street vendors in Panchkula. Later, in the second phase their number increased to 2,803 and now the final figure has reached 3,902.

Rudhrabhishek Enterprises Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, was allotted the work of carrying out the survey of vendors in the city. A mobile-based application using the GIS mapping with digital photograph of vendors was employed in the survey conducted under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act-2014.

As per Section 3 (III) of the Act, no vendor can be evicted or re-allocated from his/her place of livelihood till the survey is completed. However, no vendor will obstruct movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

MC to dissolve town vending committee 

The Municipal Commissioner has decided to dissolve the town vending committee. The new committee will be formed after following the due process. Sources revealed that there were few complaints of corruption against some committee members. Earlier, when the committee was formed, no election was held. Now, members of the committee will be selected by poll. 

Parliament has passed the Act

Notably, the Parliament has passed the Street Vendors’ (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which guarantees them the right to work as street vendors. They can be evicted only as per provisions of the Act.