Analyse the urban street vendors programme implemented in Tamilnadu (ACF 2018)

• The Urban Street Vendors Programme (USV) is a government initiative to provide legal recognition and formalization to street vendors in India.
• The programme was launched in Tamil Nadu in 2015 and has been implemented in 100 cities across the state.

Main components:

• Survey and identification of street vendors: The first step is to survey all street vendors in a city and identify them. This is done by a team of enumerators who visit each street and collect information about the vendors, such as their name, address, type of goods sold, and years of experience.
• Registration of street vendors: Once the vendors have been identified, they are registered with the local government. This gives them legal recognition and allows them to operate their businesses without fear of harassment.
• Provision of vending zones: The government also provides vending zones for street vendors. These are designated areas where vendors can set up their stalls and sell their goods. The vending zones are usually located in busy areas where there is a lot of foot traffic.
• Provision of training and financial assistance: The government also provides training and financial assistance to street vendors. This helps them to improve their skills and business practices.

Significance

• Programme has given them a sense of security and has helped them to improve their livelihoods. The programme has also been praised by civil society organizations, who say that it is a step in the right direction towards ensuring the rights of street vendors.

Challenges:

• Lack of political will: There is a lack of political will to implement the programme effectively. The government has not allocated enough funds to the programme, and there is a shortage of staff to implement it.
• Lack of coordination between different government departments: There is a lack of coordination between different government departments, such as the municipal corporation, the police, and the revenue department. This has led to problems in identifying and registering street vendors, and in providing them with vending zones.
• Resistance from shopkeepers: Shopkeepers often resist the setting up of vending zones in their areas. They argue that street vendors are taking away their business.
• Lack of awareness among street vendors: Many street vendors are not aware of their rights under the USV programme. They are often harassed by the police and other authorities.

Criticism

• The programme has also been criticized by some for not going far enough. They argue that the government should do more to provide street vendors with access to credit, markets, and other resources. They also argue that the government should crack down on illegal encroachments on vending zones.
• Overall, the USV programme is a positive step towards the formalization of street vending in India. However, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure the rights and livelihoods of street vendors.

Despite these challenges, the USV programme has been successful in providing legal recognition and formalization to street vendors in Tamil Nadu. The programme has helped to improve the livelihoods of street vendors and has given them a sense of security.