Lok Sabha passes street vendors bill

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2012, which aims to protect the rights of street vendors in cities.

Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Girija Vyas had moved the bill Thursday saying it will allow the street vendors to earn their livelihood without fear.

The debate concluded Friday.

The bill aims to check harassment of urban street vendors by police and municipal authorities and to regulate street vending activities.

Several opposition members including those from the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal-United and Shiv Sena too had urged the government to address this issue.

“At present around two per cent of the population is involved in street vending activity and this figure is likely to reach 2.5 per cent in a few years,” said the minister.

The bill provides for certificates by local authorities to street vendors to save them from harassment by the police and other authorities.

The bill also stipulates that market places which have been functional for more than 50 years will be considered natural markets and vendors located there will be protected.

-IANS