MAPUSA
Inability to decide on the classification of street vendors has prompted the Town Vending Committee (TVC) of Mapusa to seek legal opinion on the definition of street vendors.
It was also decided that the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) will frame bylaws under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014 and distribute it among the TVC members in the next meeting.
Former chairperson and senior councillor Sandip Falari said those vendors who sit under shade cannot be classified as street vendors.
“All fish, vegetable/fruit and flower market vendors who have a roof over their heads cannot be called street vendors in a real term as per the Street Vendors Act,” Falari opined during the TVC meeting held in the MMC hall on Tuesday.
President of Mapusa Merchants’ Association Ashish Shirodkar, however, said that the definition of street vendors was very clear in the Act.
“All vendors have to be provided with a shade, toilet and drinking water facility. And therefore, our fish, vegetable and the flower market vendors who have all these facilities also come under this Act,” Shirodkar said.
He further said some years back, all fish and vegetable vendors in Mapusa were also sitting on the street and were later shifted to the present facility.
MMC Chief Officer Kabir Shirgaonkar informed that the TVC has decided to seek legal opinion on the classification of street vendors.
“Some TVC members believe that those who do business in shade should not be classified as street vendors. Since there are differences among the members, we have decided to seek legal opinion on the issue,” said Shirgoankar, who is also the chairman of the TVC.
He further informed that the MMC will frame bylaws under the Street Vendors Act, which will be distributed among the TVC members in the next meeting.
As per Section 37 of the Street Vendors Act, the local civic body is authorised to frame bylaws for the street vending activity.
The MMC chief officer disclosed that as per the provisions of the Street Vendors Act, a survey will be conducted to identify the number of vendors in Mapusa.
The next meeting of the TVC will be held in the first week of October.
