(a) whether the Government has any plan to protect the rights of street vendors across the country by introducing suitable legislation in this regard; and
(b) if so, the salient features of the proposed legislation in protecting the means of livelihood of street vendors?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)
(a)&(b): In order to protect rights of urban street vendors, regulate street vending activities and to ensure uniformity in legal framework for street vending, the Government has already enacted the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 which came into force w.e.f. May 1, 2014.The Act is applicable to all States/UTs except for State of Jammu & Kashmir and also any land, premises and trains owned and controlled by the Railways under the Railway Act, 1989. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therein contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act.
The Act is implemented by respective States/UTs by framing their respective Rules, Schemes, Bye-laws and Plan for Street Vending as per provisions of the Act. The provisions contained in the Act, inter-alia, include survey of street vendors and protection from eviction and relocation; issue of certificate of vending; laying down rights of street vendors; mechanism for redressal of grievances; preparation of plan of street vending; constitution of town vending committees; and prevention of harassment of street vendors.
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