Reclaiming footpaths: Balancing pedestrians' rights with street vendors' livelihoods
Bengaluru's "Safe Footpath" drive, removing street vendors, has sparked debate over compliance with the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. This Act aims to balance pedestrians' right to safe footpaths with vendors' right to livelihood, preventing arbitrary evictions. It mandates a step-by-step process: first, constituting a Town Vending Committee (TVC) with vendor representation; second, conducting a survey of all street vendors; and third, issuing Certificates of Vending. Crucially, vendors cannot be evicted or relocated until the survey is complete and certificates issued. Bengaluru's drive is scrutinized for removing vendors before establishing a TVC and identifying vending zones.
Key Points
- The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, balances pedestrians' rights with vendors' livelihoods.
- The Act mandates a specific process for regulating street vending, including forming a Town Vending Committee (TVC).
- Vendors cannot be evicted or relocated until a survey is completed and Certificates of Vending are issued.
- Bengaluru's recent footpath drive is criticized for not adhering to the Act's provisions, particularly regarding TVC formation and surveys.
Exam Facts
- The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act was enacted in 2014.
- Article 19 of the Constitution protects street vending as a 'legitimate' occupation.
- Town Vending Committees (TVCs) must have at least 40% street vendor representation.
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