I recently read an advertisement issued by Margao Municipal Council inviting applications for members of the Town Vending committee. This is a good policy under the guidelines of the National Policy on Urban Street vendors 2009. In similar circumstances, there are street vendors in every village panchayat, many who operate illegally on road sides and there is no action taken by the local bodies or the FDA does not conduct any raids in the villages to check the hygiene of such kiosks or roadside 'gaddas' which sell food items. Even bread is nowadays sold on the road without any name or registration number. Will the Director of Panchayats issue such similar guidelines for panchayats to invite road side vendors and form their committee as they need to have FDA and road traffic guidelines for such business.This will give the vendors protection of livelihood and regulations of street vending rules 2016. The committee is mandatory to be formed as all villages are becoming semi urban with rampant and reckless development approval by the TCP and the local body turning a blind eye to all the illegalities of such roadside businesses.
