The Hindu 29.01.2015
Training to vendors ahead of formation of zones
They will be given identity cards soon: official
The city corporation will organise training sessions for street vendors as a first step towards formation of vending zones in the city.
The programme, which is being initiated under the Urban Street Vendors Scheme as a part of the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), will seek to form vending zones in every area where vendors will be provided with infrastructure and other facilities to carry out business.
“A survey undertaken by the NULM identified 6,993 street vendors within the corporation limits. They will soon be issued identity cards and classified based on the corporation zone they belong to,” said V. Rajendran, Assistant Project Director, NULM.
“The areas for the vending zones will be identified based on the concentration of street vendors and footfall of people. These organised vending zones are aimed at protecting street vendors from harassment and also giving them a proper identity and space for their livelihood,” he added.
As part of the training, functioning of the zones and facilities required for their functioning would be explained to the street vendors. More than 60 street vendors identified from Madurai North Zone – most of them from Mattuthavani area – would participate in the first phase of the initiative.
“The programme will be conducted in a phased manner following which identification of locations for vending zones will be initiated. Spaces owned by the city corporation at those locations will be earmarked for construction of facilities for street vendors,” an official said.