NASVI hails Justice JS Verma Committee Report that says
Street vendors make city streets safer for communities and pedestrians and they must be encouraged by authorities
Anti-police terror campaign launched following death of a hawker in Mumbai during forced eviction by police gains momentum
National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) has time and again asserted that the street vendors serve society and contribute immensely to city economies, and help cities and towns grow in an equitable and socially inclusive manner, and therefore, their contribution and rights must be recognized and protected by the society, the government, the municipal bodies and the police forces through inclusive legislation and accountable governance.
Recently when a hawker Shri Madan Jaiswal, a migrant from Bihar, died during forced eviction launched by the infamous Mumbai ACP Vasant Dhoble in Mumbai on 11 January, 2013, NASVI called upon its member organizations of several states to come on to the streets demanding institution of murder charge against the infamous Mumbai ACP and the compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to the family of the deceased hawker.
After the incident, the hawkers in Mumbai, Delhi and several other cities in north, eastern and southern states hit the streets making shrill cry to make the Police Accountable to the Public, Accountable to the Citizens, Accountable to the Working Poor and Accountable to the Civil Society. NASVI also sent letters to the ministers and authorities in Delhi, Mumbai and Patna including the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson, Union Home Minister, Union Home Secretary, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Maharashtra Chief Minister, Maharashtra Home Minister, Maharashtra DGP and Mumbai Police Chief as well as the Bihar Chief Minister and the National Human Rights Commission and demanded stern action against the Mumbai ACP and justifiable compensation from Maharashtra and Bihar Governments to the family of the deceased hawker.
It is not just Mumbai case, whenever the human rights of street vendors get trampled by the police and municipal authorities; we get anguished, resent and assert during protest campaigns that the street vendors are the eyes and the ears of the city. They make markets and public places safe and secure. If they are not at railway and bus station premises, the areas would be prone to loot and crimes. We serve people, help local economy grow and make city inclusive and dynamic, but the authorities refuse to legalize us and give us the space and opportunities to earn a descent living. The police and municipal officials exploit us financially, but when we refuse to entertain them, we face threats, harassment and forced eviction.
The Supreme Court of India also ruled on many occasions that the street vendors/hawkers have their fundamental right to carry on their businesses on streets and pavements, and this right must be protected by the government through legislation and administrative efforts.
Now, the Justice J.S. Verma Committee Report, which was constituted by the Government of India on 23 December, 2012 in the wake of nationwide outrage and public protests against the brutal gang rape of a girl in Delhi on 16 December, submitted to the Prime Minister of India on 23 January, 2013 has also found the assertion “Street vendors make city streets safe” right and the Report has recommended under its Recommendation No. 17:
“Street vending should be encouraged to make the bus stops and footpaths safe for communities and pedestrians, in addition to providing street food for the common people.”
The Report has come down heavily on the lack of constitutional values and moral vision among policemen and officers and it has recommended several urgent measures for police reform including community policing involving communities and citizens, police accountability to the public and substantial improvement in the standard of policing through building positive and cooperative relationship between the civil society and the police.
The Report has said that the country must account for the tears of its people and the rights and dignity of the women, the children and the marginalized must be protected by all wings of the state.
NASVI calls upon the street vendors’ organizations, community based groups and civil society organizations to mount pressure on the government to ensure
- 1. Early enactment of an Inclusive and Effective Central Legislation to protect the livelihood, social security and human rights of street vendors.
- 2. Reforms in Municipal and Police Governance
- 3. Exemplary punishment to those officials who usurp the rights and violate the dignity of women and other marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.
- 4. Institution of murder charge against the infamous Mumbai ACP Vasant Dhoble whose action led to tragic death of a hawker Shri Madan Jaiswal in Mumbai on 11 January, 2013
- 5. Compensations of Rs. 25 lakh from the Maharashtra Government and of Rs. 10 lakh from the Bihar Government to the family of the deceased hawker
