the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Town Vending Committee (TVC) of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday decided to conduct a final survey of number of vendors occupying the Mapusa municipal area.
The TVC has also rejected the demand of a section of the vendors to allow them to store goods in the market at night.
“We have already done a preliminary survey of vendors who occupy places inside as well as outside the market. We have now decided to do a final survey of the vendors and arrive at a figure. The findings of this survey will be placed before the next TVC meeting,” said Clen Madeira, MMC Chief Officer who is the chairman of the TVC.
The TVC meeting that was held almost after one year was attended by councillors appointed on the committee, representatives of the market trade associations and vendors.
The TVC chairman informed that there was a request from the vendors to allow them to store their goods at night, which has not been accepted by the TVC.
“A daily vendor should know how much he or she is selling and bring that much quantity only in the market. The market cannot be a godown to store goods,” Madeira said. The meeting which began half an hour late took another half an hour only to discuss who is qualified to be a vendor.
Former chairperson and councillor, Sandeep Falari took pains to explain that at per the Street Vendors Act, 2014 only those persons who sell merchandise on the street have no roof on his or her head can be called as the vendor.
He further said that Mapusa Municipal Council has to first identify a vending zone and based on the holding capacity of the zone the vendors should be allowed to sit and do business.
“If the holding capacity of the vending zone is 500 and the number of vendors turns out to be 1,000 then the vendors will be allowed to sit on rotation basis on every alternate day,” he said.
The Mapusa Merchants Association President Ashish Shirodkar opined that a survey has to be conducted of only existing vendors.
“If not, new people will force their way, in the name of Revolutionary Goans or other associations, and stake claim for a vendor’s spot in the market,” Shirodkar said.
He stressed the need to allot timing for vendors and identify vending areas in the market. He also highlighted the need to hold tenant verification of the vendors.
A vendor from the market informed that often claims of original vendors, who have been occupying space in the market for last several years, are ignored and someone else has been given an opportunity to use the space.
Due to language barrier, as most vendors could not read or understand English, it was decided next time the minutes of the previous meeting should be distributed among all the members at least four days in advance.
