Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to regulate and grant protection to street vendors, the State government on Thursday notified the Goa Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Rules, 2016, as per Supreme Court guidelines.
The rules speak of setting up of a Town Vending Committee (TCV) which will decide on the issuance of vendor licences, regulate the business and set up hawking and non-hawking areas in the their respective towns. The committee, to be headed by the Commissioner of the City Corporation or the Chief Municipal Officer, will be in force for three years. It also lays emphasis on the constitution of Dispute Redressal Committee for the purpose of providing speedy hearing of disputes of street vendors.
The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition in connection with Maharashtra government, had in September 2013, directed that all the activities under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Policy 2009 are required to be implemented by all municipal councils and corporations in the country. The State government has finally drafted rules under the policy.
The TVC, which will be constituted by every municipality, will be entrusted with the task of identifying the hawkers or street vendors in their respective cities and to mark special zones for their operation. The committee will also decide on cancellation or withdrawal of licences in case of violations.
The 21-member committee will have 11 representatives from the Street Vendors Association, who will be elected. It will also consist of members of Market and Trade Association, Collector or office representative, three sitting councillors, Chairman of Planning and Development Authority, Police and one Medical Officer.
