Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) will soon provide Identity (ID) cards to the street vendors as the first phase of the survey of the vendors is now complete.
Endeavouring hard to maintain the records of all street vendors within the municipal area, the work of providing ID cards handed over to a private agency ‘Sammaan Foundation’ has been complete.
According to an RMC official, 5906 street vendors are likely to get ID cards within a week.
“The survey of street vendors in the first phase has been complete. Soon the ID cards will be provided to all identified street vendors. The attempt has been made to ensure registration of each hawker. More than 28 routes have been taken into consideration before finalizing the draft. Also, during the survey, 12 vending zones were identified,” said RMC City Manager, Vikash.
Covering major locations, a place near Doranda College, Upper Bazaar Haat (Opposite Bakri Bazaar), a location near Sewa Sadan, Nepal House, AG More, lalpur (near distillery pool), Booty More, HEC, Argora Ground etc. have been identified for creation of vending zones.
On the other hand, controversies and frequent protests of the street vendors over the settlement issues are increasing day by day. The survey has been condemned by different associations. Members of Ranchi Footpath Hawkers Sangh claimed that the Municipal Corporation has violated the guidelines of the Apex Court during the survey.
“The survey has been done in haste without considering the norms of the Supreme Court (SC). According to the rules, before providing ID cards to the vendors, registration of every vendor is mandatory. Also, a major chunk of street vendors in the city are yet to be covered. Providing ID cards is not a solution to the problem, formation of Town Vending Committee is our main agenda,” said Ranchi Footpath Hawkers Sangh, General Secretary, Anita Das.
Meanwhile, clarifying the stance on the assertions put up by the Ranchi Footpath Hawkers Sangh, the City Manager handling the project added that the claims made by the associations are baseless.
“The survey of the street vendors will continue. In the first phase, only 5906 vendors have been registered. Also, formation of Town Vending Committee will be ensured in sometime. Claims and objections have been invited twice, which will be put forward to the committee after its formation. As per the rules there will be 18 representatives from the State government side and 18 members will be from the vendors’ body in the newly formed town vending committee,” said Vikash.