Tamil Nadu Street Vendors Demand Livelihood Protection

The CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu Streetside Vendors Association (TNSVA) protested in 15 district headquarters across the state on Monday against the alleged violation of their rights and entitlements under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

Around 3,000 people participated in the protests, where the association highlighted alleged “irregularities and malpractices” of DMK members.

“Although the 2014 Act categorically mentions the rights of street vendors and the state formulated rules accordingly in 2015, they are not implemented on the ground,” TNSVA convener Karuppiah told Newsclick.

The protestors submitted memorandums at collectorate offices demanding the completion of the pending survey of street vendors, election to vending committees, and identity cards and vending certificates.

Street vendors from 100 markets in Delhi held a protest at the MCD headquarters on the same day condemning “eviction” in the name of this year’s G20 Summit.

As per the Act, a survey all street vendors must be surveyed once every five years and vending certificates issued to them accordingly. The TNSVA noted that very few zones had conducted surveys. No data is available on the number of street vendors in the state.

“Many vendors were left out even in the zones where surveys were conducted. We demand that the government take the association’s help and ensure it is done systematically,” said Karuppiah.

The TNSVA protests in Trichy. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu.

After surveys, municipalities and corporations must democratically hold elections to the vending committees, TNSVA said.

“In Thirumangalam town of Madurai, a DMK leader nominated members to the committee without elections. Even the nomination papers were not released. This cannot be accepted,” Karuppiah said.

As per the Act, the number of members representing street vendors shall not be less than 40% in the vending committees. However, in Tamil Nadu, only 6 of 15 members represent vendors. The protestors demanded to raise the representation to one-third of the committee.

The TNSVA also corruption in the distribution of vending carts under the Support to Urban Street Vendors (SUSV) scheme of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).

“The carts provided under the scheme are sold by the chairpersons of municipalities. They are taking cash for the vending carts,” alleged Karuppiah. Free vending carts should be provided without malpractices and in consultation with TNSVA, the association said.

The DMK in its election manifesto had promised a loan of Rs 15,000 for street vendors. The TNSVA demanded immediate fulfilment of the promise through cooperative banks to ensure vendors are not at the mercy of microfinance institutes.

The TNSVA also demanded an end to “police harassment and eviction of street vendors. “The authorities are bypassing the Act and evicting vendors. The law only allows for regularising and formalising street vendors. In the case of an eviction, they should be relocated,” said Karuppiah.