Trade union leader Jayant Das has alleged that the Baleswar municipal authorities, adopting a discriminatory approach, have deprived several street vendors of their financial assistance during the lockdown.
He said there are about 2,800 street vendors, including several in the town, yet only about 45 have got the amount Rs 3,000 for three months. The rest are not considered as street vendors and so did not get any aid, he told.
Municipality Executive Officer Pranay Kumar Jena, however, refuted the allegations and said that after due verification the amount was paid. There are about another 40 who would be collecting their dues later on, he informed.
Jena said in Baleswar municipality so far the exact number of street vendors was not enumerated.
“In 2015, a survey was conducted in Baleswar municipality by an independent agency to ascertain the number of street vendors and further to issue them with identity cards. 1,986 street vendors were identified by the agency then. But it was disputed by some of council members then as a result of which the list couldn’t finalized. As of now there is no official figure available with us about the number of street vendors under Baleswar municipality," said Jena.
“Yet through our own mechanism we could ascertain a tentative figure around 90. The compensation is for the vendors who lost their livelihood on account of lockdown . The majority of the street vendors sell vegetables and fruits. Since these outlets are opened and their profession is not affected, they are not entitled to receive the grant. During our survey we have considered the shops and outlets who were dealing with tea , betel , gup chup etc . Even small time barber shops, cycle , bike repair shops were considered . We are accountable for each rupee,” he added.
The district administration informed that the grant in Soro was given to 158 vendors and in Jaleswar 80 vendors were given the money till date.