Sir,

In this busy and fast life, everyone is in the race of earning more and more. People are turn to different profession as per their interest and talent, to earn their livelihood. Vending is a well known profession as well as an integral part of our society.

In Patna, we can see many street vendors near Bailey road, Boring road, Patna Junction, Ashok Rajpath and many more places. Do we ever think about what consequences they have to face, to earn their livelihood and fulfill their basic needs? Nobody is bothered. Not even our powerful authorities.

There are around two lakh vendors in Patna (according to National Association of Street Vendors in India [NASVI]), and to accommodate, enough space is required as there is space crunch in the city. This is a big problem which needs to be solved.  In our society, there are some ‘powerful people’ who take care of our streets by removing street vendors forcefully. Police, municipalities target them easily, if any initiative cannot be taken, why  become barrier in their work and treat them as if they have done any heinous crime? The vendors have to face multiple powers or authorities such as police, municipal corporation, district administrative, local panchayat and so on.

In 2012, the lower house Lok Sabha has given the right to street vendors by passing the Street Vendors Bill 2012. But does it really work? Some statues of the bill are that the ambitious attitude is required then Town Vending Committee must be formed by every city Municipal Corporation. And every person intended to become a vendor would have to apply to the committee for a location and a certificate. The condition of the vendors and the problems regarding locations can be solved if any provision would have been made and taken into action in the city. There is always a solution to a problem; just we need to make an effort to find out. So, rather than misbehaving and torturing, there should be proper provision made for street vendors.

Aakanksha Kashyap

CEMS III

Patna Women’s College

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