03 March, 2010-Ludhiana: Thousands of members of the Rehri-Farri Union(an affiliate member of NASVI) have asked the municipal corporation authorities to provide a separate space (demarcation) for them in city markets by marking a yellow line.
Disgusted over the "highhandedness" by the authorities, the vendors alleged that since they had no influence on serving political leaders, their cries were not being heard by anyone. The agitated workers added that the MC was "adamant" for not letting them earn their daily bread. A massive rally of the Rehri-Farri Union, including tea, vegetable, fruit, readymade garment vendors, was held to protest against the "callous" attitude of the MC at Daresi Grounds here today. The vendors, not only from the district but their counterparts from all over Punjab, Patna and even Mumbai, had come in support of the "genuine" demands of the union.
Gopalji, general secretary, Rehri Farri Union told The Tribune that they were being forced by the authorities to take such a bold step. He said the union members had submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner about 20 days ago in which the former had demanded that a separate space should be designated for them in markets so that nobody was disturbed. "But they did not pay any attention to our demand. Officials of the MC come all of a sudden and start removing our rehris from markets. They tow away rehris in such a bad manner that all our eatables, veggies, fruits etc fall on roads. It is very unfortunate that the authorities care a damn about our plight," rued Gopalji, adding that vested interests of the MC officials were involved in doing such an act. "Corrupt officials want regular weekly money from us. If we pay them, they ignore everything, but when we refuse to bow to their pressure tactics, they start removing/damaging the rehris," alleged Gopalji.
Bal Krishan Pappi, president of the union, said there were more than 50,000 rehris-farris within the municipal limits of city. Lakhs of people will not be able to get meal if these rehris were removed by the authorities. "Some of us are into the profession for more than 30-40 years. On an average, a vendor has to shell out about Rs 2000-3000 everyday to get little margins of up to Rs 400 at the end of the day. If the authorities start removing our rehris, where will we go? They should provide us with appropriate solution and the dictatorial attitude must be stopped," said Pappi. The vendors agreed that traffic got blocked on roads as customers start making purchases by haphazardly parking their vehicles. "The problem of traffic can be solved if proper space is marked for us," added Pappi.
Coordinator of the National Association of the Street Vendors of India, Arbind Singh, who specially came from Delhi in support of vendors, has asked the state government to provide licences to them so that they earn their livelihood in a "secured" environment. He also said that if vendors would be asked to pay nominal fees to the MC, their interests would be safeguarded by the latter. "We are trying to meet the CM on the issue," said Singh, demanding that National Policy on Street-vendors 2009 must be implemented for their betterment.
Coordinator of the National Association of the Street Vendors of India, Shri.Arbind Singh addresses the vendors |
