Street vendors Bill passed By Rajya Sabha

In a bid to protect livelihoods rights, social security of street vendors, the Rajya Sabha  on Wednesday passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2014. The Lok Sabha had earlier passed the Bill on September 6, 2013.

Moving the Bill for consideration and passing in the House Dr Girija Vyas, Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation said “Street vendors constitute an integral part of our urban economy. Street vending is not only a source of self-employment to the poor in cities and towns but also a means to provide ‘affordable’ as well as ‘convenient’ services to a majority of the urban population,  especially the common man. Street vendors are often those who are unable to get regular jobs in the remunerative formal sector on account of their low level of education and skills.”

“They try to solve their livelihoods issues through their own meager financial resources and sweat equity,” she added.

Given the pace of urbanisation and the opportunities presented through the development of urban areas, the growth of street vendors’ population is likely to have an upward trend.

“It is vital that these vendors are enabled to pursue their livelihoods in a congenial and harassment free atmosphere. Inclusive growth strategy adopted by the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans calls for a facilitating mechanism for street vending to aid economic growth and inclusion simultaneously,” Dr Vyas said.