(4) South Regional Workshop on
Regulation of Street Vendors in the  Context of National Policy (20-21 January 2006)
A two days South Regional Workshop was conducted by NASVI for the representatives of the states Kerala, Karnataka, Andra Predesh, Pondicherry and Tamilnadu. Leaders from various trade unions and organizations working with street vendors were the participants. The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the union leaders towards the activities for implementation of National Policy through the state wise discussion. And also it was an opportunity to know about the national level activities and NASVI’s programmes for the co ordination of street vendors’s unions.

In the inaugural session Arbind Singh, NASVI co-ordinator said this meeting is the first and major step after annual general body and the participants discuss the issues and problem in each state and share their views and plan for further action. He expressed NASVI’s gratitude to the organizations like pennurumayikkam, Unorganised sector workers federation, Chennai Maanakar Siru Vyaparikalin Sangagalin koottamippu for their extended co operation and support to NASVI, which lead NASVI for a good opening in chennai city.

He also said that NASVI will help the unions to get registered and he requested the participants to take part in the activities for National Policy implementation and campaign for social security bill for unorganized sector.

Mr. Mageswaran, in his speech, pointed out the relevance of this meeting. There are a lot of problems still existing in the field of street vending. The authority is not issuing the license, harassment from the police and municipalities and lack of acceptance etc are the major issues. The national policy implementation is in the initial stage in a few states and yet to be started in the other states. So it’s very relevant that the four states come together and thinking about these issues. .

Representatives from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Pondichery states shared their issues, problems, views and ideas. Some important scipts as follows.

K T Saidu from Kerala
There are 14 districts in Kerala, out of it representation from 6 districts only reached here, various organizations and unions, with or with out support from political parties. In Kerala only a few municipalities are giving small-scale facilities to street vendors, even that is a local and temporary arrangement.  We should fight for ever lasting security for the street vendors. NASVI’s initiatives are remarkable and should be continued in Kerala.

Diju from Karnataka
Harrassement and exploitation from police and municipalities are common factors. Apart from that the street vendors are the main victims of money lending, there are money lenders like collecting interest Rs.10 for 1000 per day, its known as Meter Vatti, so the social security, loan schemes, financial assistance, insurance etc are the priority needs of the street vendors.

Ravi Shanker-Hydrebad
He spoke about the problems facing by labourers and vendors in their sector like the problems of push cart workers, gas sellers etc. The basic and immediate necessities like water, light, identity card should be provided. The on going struggle for these rights must be strengthen through NASVI’s intervention.

Sreenivas Babu-Treasurer, Street Vendors’s Federation, Tamilnadu.
 He spoke about the co ordination among the street vendors’s unions in Chennai. But after the unionization no harassment or exploitation from the police or other officials are mentioned. He mentioned that the interventions by the court, advocates, and social workers helped us to reach at this stage. 

Ms. Leelavathy, Pennurumayikkam
She gave historical out line and the interventions made by Pennurumykkam, which is working among the unorganized women workers for past 28 years. From 1998 onwards associating with NASVI and focusing completely implementing the National policy in Tamilnadu through developing a model in this state.

R. Geeta, convener, National Campaign Committee for Social Security bill for Unorganized Sector
She spoke about the Social security bill and the umbrella legislation for the unorganized sector laboures by central government. There are three kind of bills drafted, first drafted by National Commission, second one is by National Advisory Committee (NAC), and an alternative bill has been drafted by National Campaign Committee because Government bills more focused on security and lively hood but employment, wages, rights, regulation etc.  Unfortunately these bills yet to be passed in the parliament. Social Security, which should be given to the street vendors, means security to the workers, security to the space and security of the situations workers cannot work like maternity, sickness etc. The Indian labour conference debated these issues and the government agreed to go through all the drafts and finalize the bill.

She said that NASVI should raise these issues and stand for the statutory kind of security for vendors, encourage secretarial type of welfare boards, In Tamilnadu there are three kinds of welfare boards-one is for construction workers, second is for manual workers and third one for agriculture workers. The street vendors can be registered under the manual workers welfare board. She also mentioned about the exploitation towards the women vendors especially fish vendors, who hit by Tsunami, in rehabilitation work of Tsunami. So let us join together and fight for these issues. 

Mr. V R Lakshmi Narayanan – Ex. DGP, Tamilnadu
Street Vendors should be organized because then only they will come to know about our their rights. This is a good situation that the Kankaraj committee report forwarded to the High Court by Supreme Court. And also there is a stay order, which says that street vendors should not be forced to move from their places until the final verdict by the High Court. So no body can move the Vendors. In Newyork, they have system for providing space for street vendors even through restricting transport in the street in some special occasions. We should learn from this and understand that street vendors have their own contribution to the Economy of the Country. NASVI and other unions must take the initiative to issue the Kanakaraj Committee report.

Mr.Jaysingh-Joint Commissioner of Labour, Tamilnadu
He spoke about the various welfare boards of Tamilnadu government like, boards for construction workers, manual workers, agriculture workers etc. He said that there are some constraints to speed up the registration process with limited staff facility and hopefully it will improve after the on going staff selection process. Pensions, ESI, housing facility, hazards to employment are main concerns of the labour department.

Senthial Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (South) Chennai, TN
He mentioned about the formation of National policy for street vendors and the historical growth of vending. There is no difference in the items selling by Mega shops and street vendors. Its exactly a self employment and should be promoted even to the educated as the lively hood activity. Rules are positive to the vendors and transparency must be encouraged in the operative level. The authorities and the vendors can be joining together for the law or policy creation and its implementation.  
After the above session a group discussion was taken place for making a action plan for further steps in state wise. The presented findings from each group as follows:-

Conclusion
The NASVI co ordinator facilitated the concluding session, he gave brief findings of the two days discussion and suggestions. The main points of the of the concluding remarks as follows

§          Conclusion

Kerala

Three Regional Level Leaders Workshop in Kerala

1. CALICUT-13-02-2006 (4 districts)
2. TRICHUR- 05-02-2006 (5 districts)
3. QUILON- 22-02-2006 (5 districts)

STATE LEVEL METING IN MARCH 

1. CALICUT ZONE- (Kasargode, Kannur, Wynad, Kozmikode
2. TRICHUR ZONE- (Mallapuram, Palakad, Ernakulam, Idikki, Trichur)
3. QUILON ZONE= Alappuzha, Quilon, Pattaanauthita, Kottayam, Triuandrum
1. Postal Campaign
2. Leaflet –National Policy in brief
3. State Level Convention

Andhra Pradesh

1. To get stay from Supreme Court on Hyderabad
2. Signature Campaign from all places of the State
3. To sit on the roads and Streets on the day of Demolishing day along with family people & childrens..
4. Co-ordination Committee meeting at Ekta Footpath Vendors Association, Gandhy Gyan Mandir, Koti, Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad m-9392415691
5. To fight unity on all the problems of the State by State Coordinating Committee

Karnataka State
National Policy is to be implemented in Karnataka State

1. National Policy is printed in Regional Language
2. Creatign Awareness among Street Vendors
3. Implementation of rehabilitation program
4. Social Security
5. Educational programmes for street vendors
6. Introducing Micro-credit scheme
7. Avoiding middlemen, commission Agents, creating direct business links
8. Creation systematic Marketing facilities
9. State Committee should be form under NASVI

tamil nadu 

1. We request Tamilnadu Govt. implement the National Policy for street vendors in Tamil Nadu

For Chennai City

1. Take Action to implement Justice J. Kanagarja Hawking Zone Committee recommendation.
2. The Co-ordination Committee should be formed after 30th Jan- 6, by having  one meeting after the date

—Implementation of national policy on street vendors likely, The New Indian Express, 27, 2006
—Implementation of national policy on street vendors sought, The Hindu, January 23, 2006