Salient Features of the Street Vendors Bill, 2014

The Rajya Sabha recently passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014. The Bill provides for protection of livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors, regulation of urban street vending in the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Street food speaks volumes about the culture of this country. I am sure that all of us have must have eaten street food many times in our life. Let us examine some of the salient features of this bill.

1. The Bill provides for constitution of a Town Vending Authority in each Local Authority

2. A Town Vending Committee (TVC) shall be constituted which will have representation of officials and non-officials and street vendors, including women vendors with due representation from SC, ST, OBC, Minorities and persons with disabilities.

3. 40% members of the TVC will be from amongst street vendors to be selected through election, of which one-third shall be women.

4. A survey will be conducted, once in every five years to identify the street vendors and subsequently, Certificate of Vending will be issued to them.

5. Where the number of street vendors identified are more than the holding capacity of the vending zone, the Town Vending Committee (TVC) is required to carry out a draw of lots for issuing the certificate of vending for that vending zone and the remaining persons will be accommodated in any adjoining vending zone to avoid relocation.

6. Old Certificate of Vending issued before the commencement of this act will continue to remain valid.

7. The authorities will have to conduct the survey as soon as possible and before that no street vendor can be evicted.

8. Necessary recommendation of TVC will be needed for relocation of any street vendor by the local authority. However, relocation should be exercised as a last resort.

9. No-vending zone shall be declared only in a manner which displaces as less street vendors as possible.

10. The thrust of the Bill is on “natural market”, which has been defined under the Bill. The entire planning exercise has to ensure that the provision of space or area for street vending is reasonable and consistent with existing natural markets. Thus, natural locations where there is a constant congregation of buyers and sellers will be protected under the Bill.

11. An Independent Dispute Redressal Mechanism under the chairmanship of retired judicial officers will be there under this act.

12. The Bill also provides for promotional measures to be undertaken by the Government, towards availability of credit, insurance and other welfare schemes of social security, capacity building programmes, research, education and training programme etc. for street vendors.

13. Section 29 of the Bill provides for protection of street vendors from harassment by police and other authorities and provides for an overriding clause to ensure they carry on their business without the fear of harassment by the authorities under any other law.

14. The Bill specifically provides that the Rules under the Bill have to be notified within one year of its commencement, and Scheme has to be notified within six months of its commencement to prevent delay in implementation.

There are over 10 million street vendors in India. Street food enterprise contributes immensely to the local economy. Their food represents the traditional food of India. This Bill is definitely a welcome step in this regard. A detailed analysis of this bill will follow soon.