Now, only native hawkers will get permanent space
Those with no domicile proof will have to be ‘Mobile Vendors’
The two sets of hawkers, as per the new guidelines, will be issued licences for 5 years……Sandeep Ashar
Those with no domicile proof will have to be ‘Mobile Vendors’
The two sets of hawkers, as per the new guidelines, will be issued licences for 5 years……Sandeep Ashar
Henceforth, only native hawkers will be given permanent stalls in the city, while the others will have to move from door to door to sell their wares.
The state, which recently approved the hawking policy for municipal corporations, has formulated different rules for hawkers who are natives of Mumbai and have resided in the city for at least 15 years, and for those who have lived for less than 15 years.
The policy document indicates that the two sets of hawkers will peddle their wares in different hawking zones identified by the municipal corporation. Native hawkers will be given a permanent hawking space, while hawkers who do not have domicile proof to show that they have resided in the city for at least 15 years in the city will have to move around to sell items. The ‘mobile vendors’ will not be allowed to sell food items, luxury goods and electronic items.
To implement the new hawking policy, roads in every municipal ward will be categorised into three zones — no-hawking zones, where there will be no hawking, hawking zone – I, where native hawkers will be allotted stationary hawking pitches and kiosks, and hawking zone – II, where ‘mobile hawkers’ can do business.
The state cabinet approved the guidelines last week. State officials said the guidelines will now be sent to municipal corporations for implementation.
A senior BMC officer clarified that the over 15,000 hawkers already licensed by the
corporation will not be affected by the new guidelines.
corporation will not be affected by the new guidelines.
The two sets of hawkers as per the new guidelines will be issued licences for five years. They will also be given photo identities, which will have to be worn during ‘business hours’. “This will help us distinguish between a legal hawker and an illegal one,” a senior officer said.
A 14-member committee, led by the mayor and also comprising the municipal and police commissioners, will be appointed to oversee the implementation of the policy in the city. Committees will also be appointed at the ward-level to ensure proper implementation of the guidelines.
The state seems to have acknowledged that hawking is an integral part of an urban environment and plans to designate reserved spaces for hawking activity in its next development plan document.