MAPUSA: Town Vending Committee of Mapusa Municipal Council has decided to seek legal opinion over the classification and identification of vendors in the municipal market after some members of the committee claimed that the fish, flower and vegetable vendors sitting should not be considered as the street vendors.
The meeting of Town Vending Committee of Mapusa Municipal Council was convened by Chief Officer Kabir Shirgaonkar, who is also the chairman of the committee, and was attended by Account and Administrative Officer Bhanudas Naik, Councillors Sandip Falari, Sanjay Mishal, Traffic Police Inspector Tushar Vernekar, Mapusa Merchant Association President Ashish Shirodkar and vendors’ representatives.
During the meeting, the committee raised the issue of identification of vendors sitting under shed that is in fish, flower and vegetable market. The committee members claimed that vendors sitting in open space of the market should be considered as street vendors and not those who are sitting in the market.
Objecting to this, Ashish said that if these vendors sitting in shed are not considered as street vendors then they will be deprived of concession as fish and vegetables market complex was not in existence before the street vendors law had come into existence, when they were initially sitting on the streets.
Following which, it was decided to seek legal opinion on identification and classification of vendors as per the Street Vending Protection Act within next 15 days. The committee has also decided to frame by-laws and circulate among all the members.
Shirgaonkar said that TVC has suggested seeking for a legal opinion in next 15 days. After a legal opinion, survey of vendors’ identification of the vending zone will be held.
