'GMC's eviction drive violates Central law'
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Street Vendor Association of Assam has criticized the ongoing eviction drive launched by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) in the city against street vendors and demanded its immediate cessation.
The association's president, Ramoni Deka, said that the Central Government had provided recognition to street vending as a legitimate means of livelihood through The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood & Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. He questioned as to how and why the GMC is harassing street vendors in the city despite the existence of the Act and similar Rules adopted by the Government of Assam.
Deka said that following enactment of The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood & Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, the GMC had constituted a Town Vending Committee in 2015 to manage all aspects relating to street vending in the city. He condemned the GMC's action of carrying out an eviction drive against street vendors without consultation or discussion with the Town Vending Committee. Deka claimed that the GMC has not only rendered the Town Vending Committee meaningless, but also virtually negated the concept of street vending as a legitimate source of livelihood.
Deka said that GMC's eviction drive has been continuing since the last 15 days. Further, the GMC has been announcing via vehicle-mounted loudspeakers in various areas that street vendors will face a fine of Rs 5,000 each and three months in jail if they do not stop their business.
He mentioned that during the last seven years of the existence of the Town Vending Committee, the GMC has failed to establish even a single vending zone in the city and provide an alternative site for street vendors.
He said that the association demands include immediate stoppage of the GMC's eviction "and intimidation" drive and provision of identity cards and licences to street vendors. Further, he said, the association demands setting up of 50 vending zones in the city to relocate the street vendors and also ensuring that they be provided loans of Rs 10,000 each under the Prime Minister's Svanidhi Yojana.
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